A Bengaluru software professional was allegedly defrauded out of Rs 2 lakh by an extortionist gang after he visited a woman he had met on a dating app, the police said on Monday while announcing the arrests of six people including the woman, a former bar dancer, in connection with the incident.
The Yelahanka police identified the accused as Sangeeta Sahni, 36, Sharanabasappa Baliger, 50, Raju Maane, 34, Abhishek, 19, Beerabal Majjagi, 21, and Shyam Sundar Pande, 20, adding that Baliger, the prime suspect, has prior involvement in a similar case registered by the Puttenahalli police.
The victim is a 41-year-old software professional employed by a prominent Mahadevapura firm. Originally from Telangana, he has lived in Bengaluru for 15 years.
According to the police, it began when the man downloaded a dating application and matched with someone calling herself “Rakhi”, who claimed to be a business analyst from Bengaluru with Rajasthani roots. After establishing rapport through online conversations, she allegedly invited him to meet at a Starbucks outlet in a Yelahanka mall on July 18.
Following their coffee meeting, the woman invited the techie to her residence in Ramagondanahalli village—a property allegedly rented for criminal activities. Once there, she offered him alcohol, which he accepted, according to the police.
A police officer said, “A few minutes later, four men arrived, with the woman claiming that one was her landlord. They accused the victim of drug consumption and produced sachets containing white powder—actually baking soda planted beforehand—from the woman’s vanity bag as evidence.”
The woman locked herself in the bathroom, crying that her life had been ruined. The four men then began negotiations to extort money from the techie, according to the police.
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Initially demanding Rs 15 lakh, they eventually settled for Rs 2 lakh, which he immediately transferred, the police said.
After discussing the incident with friends, the techie approached the police on July 21, following which they registered a case against the accused.
A police officer said the backgrounds of other suspects were being verified.