An alarming case of extortion has surfaced in Bengaluru, where two students of a private school were detained and four of their associates arrested for allegedly extorting 700 grams of gold ornaments worth Rs 35 lakh from a classmate through blackmail.
Arrests and Detentions
The Bengaluru police disclosed on Tuesday that the two minor students involved have been placed under the care of a juvenile facility, while the remaining accused, identified as M Kartik Kumar, S Sunil, Veman N, and R Vivek, are in judicial custody at Bengaluru Central Prison. The arrested men hail from Gangavathi in Koppal district.
Modus Operandi
According to R R Nagar police, the accused had been extorting the son of a civil contractor over a span of six months. Exploiting the boy’s addiction to online games, his classmates blackmailed him, threatening to disclose his activities to his family if he did not comply with their demands.
Recovery and Investigation
The police have recovered 300 grams of gold ornaments and Rs 23 lakh in cash obtained from the sale of 400 grams of gold ornaments by the accused. However, a diamond necklace is yet to be retrieved. The extortion came to light when items belonging to the boy’s family went missing, prompting his father to file a complaint.
Collaborative Efforts
One of the juvenile suspects, closely associated with Veman N, facilitated the sale of the extorted ornaments. Veman, a first-year BCom student, enlisted the help of Vivek, a college dropout running a jewelry business in Kengeri Satellite Town, to sell the gold and reap profits.
Commissioner’s Appeal
Bengaluru Police Commissioner B Dayananda urged the public to monitor their children’s activities and associations, especially concerning electronic gadgets. This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of vigilance in safeguarding against such crimes.
