B’luru: Three arrested in honey trap case targeting civil contractor

Bengaluru: The Byadarahalli police have arrested three individuals in connection with a honey trap case where a civil contractor was lured to a house, threatened, and robbed of cash and gold ornaments.

The arrested have been identified as Santosh (28), Ajay (25), and Jayaraj (30), all residents of Tunganagar. Police revealed that four other suspects, including the woman identified as Nayana, are absconding, and efforts are underway to trace them.

Case Details:

The victim, Ranganath (57), a resident of Ullal Vinayaka Layout, was introduced to Nayana six months ago through a mutual acquaintance, Shiva. Over time, Nayana borrowed a total of Rs 14,000 from Ranganath saying that her child was unwell and needed to be taken to the hospital. After that, she repeatedly invited Ranganath to her house, but he declined.

On December 9 morning, Ranganath was on his way to a construction site in Nelagadaranahalli when he encountered Nayana near Tunganagar Cross. Nayana said that her house was nearby and requested him to come for tea. Ranganath obliged to her request and went to her house.

In his complaint Ranganath stated that when the two of them were having a conversation, three men posing as police officers barged in, accusing him of immoral activities. They assaulted him, forced him to undress, and took his photos on a mobile phone. They demanded Rs 2 lakh, threatening to expose him to his family if he didn’t comply.

Fearing consequences, Ranganath handed over his gold chain, two gold rings, Rs 29,000 in cash, and his mobile phone. Additionally, Rs 26,000 was transferred via PhonePe to one of the accused’s accounts. The suspects then fled the scene in an auto-rickshaw, police said.

At this time Nayana allegedly followed the auto on a bike and called Ranganath to inform him that the men had escaped. When Ranganath suggested filing a police complaint, Nayana threatened that she would come to his home with her child and say that they were in a relationship.

Undeterred, Ranganath consulted his lawyer and filed a complaint at Byadarahalli police station.