The Bengaluru police on Saturday arrested two people, including a TV journalist, for kidnapping and robbing a 68-year-old man from Hubbali.
According to the reports, the prime accused, Ranjitha, a TV anchor got in touch with the victim through social media. She and her associates then planned to honeytrap him and extort money, said police.
A senior police officer said that TV Anchor Ranjitha befriended the victim and invited him for a two-day trip to Bengaluru. On August 25, he came to Bengaluru to meet her and the duo booked a cab to a resort on Kanakapura Road.
As they were in the room, a group of men allegedly barged in and forced him to sleep on the bed with Ranjitha and started recording a video. Reportedly, they asked him to take off his clothes and then shoved him in a car and brought him to Suresh’s office in Govindrajnagar. Suresh is the state president of a labourers association and his car was used to kidnap the victim.
They took Rs 15,000 from him and demanded that he give them Rs 25 lakh else they will release his photos and videos. When the victim agreed to transfer the amount, he was released.
Govind BT, an investigating officer said the victim, who is a retired employee, discussed the case with a friend and then decided to file a complaint. On September 12, he approached Bengaluru police and two of the accused were nabbed. They also seized Suresh’s car.
“Suresh made a statement that Ranjitha and one of her colleagues, who is also a journalist, allegedly hatched the plan to make easy money. Five of the accused are absconding, and efforts are on to nab them, Govind added.
The police have now arrested N Suresh and Chandrashekar, residents of Govindarajnagar. The other associates of Ranjitha, V Srinivas, Chandrashekar, Vikas and Shivu, are residents of Vijaynagar. Chandrashekar is also a reporter with a news channel.