Regional TV channel chief arrested for blackmail, extortion

Bengaluru: The managing director of a Kannada news channel was arrested by the Central Crime Branch (CCB) sleuths on Sunday, May 5 on the charges of blackmailing and extorting a senior BJP leader.

The accused is identified as Hemanth Kammar, a resident of Sanjaynagar, and managing director of Focus TV.

Addressing presspersons on the issue Deputy Commissioner of Police, CCB, S Girish said that friend of former minister Aravind Limbavali, Girish Bharadwaj had filed a case with Whitefield police on Thursday.

In his complaint Bharadwaj alleged that Hemanth was repeatedly calling him over WhatsApp and threatening him that he had an audio and video of the BJP leader’s private moments and demanded Rs 50 lakh for not telecasting them on his TV channel and also claimed that officials from the Chief Minister’s office were asking for the CD and that he would give it to them if the minister failed to pay up, informed Girish.

Since it was a serious case the case was transferred to CCB. Based on a tip-off, Hemanth was arrested at Chalukya Hotel and was taken into police custody for interrogation.

After arresting Hemanth the CCB officers seized a laptop and phone as part of the investigation and then he was produced before the magistrate to take into police custody. If anyone has been a victim of extortion by Hemanth, they can approach the CCB police to file a case. Further interrogation is on, the officer added.