Chennai: Facebook friend extorts Rs 8 lakh from girl using morphed picture

Chennai: The Chennai police on Thursday arrested a 21-year-old youth for allegedly extorting valuables and cash to the tune of Rs 8 lakh from his ex-girl friend studying in an engineering college by threatening to upload her morphed obscene pictures on the internet and other social media platforms.

Police arrested Amalesh, a native of Cuddalore working in Valasaravakkam after finishing his diploma in engineering and three of his friends named Gokul, Rudra and Michael. Amalesh and three of his friends had rented a room in Valasaravakkam and were staying together.

Amalesh came in contact with the college girl through Facebook. Police said Amalesh had been a friend of the girl, hailing from West Saidapet, since 2014. After coming into contact via Facebook, they fell in love.

“The two were also trying to get a break in cinema. The girl had taken many selfies and other photos with Amalesh, as he was her boyfriend. After their relationship turned sour a year ago, Amalesh started threatening her with morphed photographs. He told her he would upload them on social networking sites and also circulate them in WhatsApp groups. His friends too had joined him in threatening the girl and extorting money and valuables from her. She tried to silence him by giving him an iPhone and laptops among others things. She had also given him money every month to keep him in good humour. But with his demands starting to increase, she approached Kumaran Nagar police.

Police estimate that the suspects had extorted cash and articles worth about Rs 8 lakh from her. The four have been booked under section 120 (B) (Punishment of criminal conspiracy), 384 (extortion), 506 (i) (criminal intimidation) and section 4 of Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Women Act.