Bengaluru: Blackmailer denied bail

BENGALURU: In a plot straight out of the movies, a 29-year old man allegedly threatened a woman, who was to get married to another person, to post on social media the photos taken with her at Kaapu beach.

According to the complaint filed in Byndur police station of Udupi district, it is alleged that after he came to know that the woman was about to marry another person, he threatened to attack her with acid.

He then reportedly took her to Agumbe, tied mangalsutra, took selfies and videos. He later demanded ransom failing which he threatened to post them on Facebook.

Byndur police filed a FIR charging him with various sections, including criminal intimidation, assaults or use of criminal force on woman, criminal intimidation, cheating, publishing obscene material in electronic form.

He had approached the high court seeking anticipatory bail, but it was rejected citing the gravity of the offences.

The allegation against the petitioner is that four years prior to the incident, he and the complainant had been to Kaapu Beach. The accused had taken complainant’s photo and residential phone number.

In February 2015, the woman’s marriage was fixed with another person. At that time the man insisted that she give mobile number of her fiance. When she refused to give her mobile number, he threatened that he would upload the photos taken at Kaapu beach on Facebook. Hence, she gave her fiance’s mobile number.

Later he had taken her to Agumbe and threatened her to marry him or he would spill acid on her. He tied a thali and took selfies and video. Then he demanded money and threatened to publish photos on Facebook.

Hence, she has lodged a complaint against the petitioner-accused. The court while dismissing the bail pleas of the accused, the court made it clear that the petitioner accused is at liberty to approach high court or concerned Sessions Court directly seeking regular bail, after surrendering before the police.