Cyberabad Police Book Journalist for Extortion and Blackmail

Hyderabad: Cyberabad police have registered a case of extortion and blackmail against Menam Shyam, an alleged employee of Q-News owned by Congress MLC Teen Maar Mallanna, based on a complaint filed by Laxmi Kantha Rao Thota. The complainant, a Scheduled Caste public representative associated with an MLA, lodged the complaint on April 22 with K. Kastro, SHO, Rajendranagar. He alleged that on April 15, Shyam contacted him, introduced himself as a journalist from the Praja Voice news channel and sought an appointment.

Later that evening, at around 7.30 pm, Shyam and his associates met the complainant in MLA Quarters in Hyderguda. Shyam allegedly claimed to possess sensitive information provided by one Nirupa Anil Kumar Dadania and demanded Rs.5 crore for not making the content public.

According to Rajendranagar police, Shyam threatened to release a video and warned that he would involve the complainant’s wife and family if the amount was not paid. Subsequently, on April 21, Shyam is said to have sent screenshot images containing false, fabricated and malicious content to the complainant’s associate, Naresh Naidu, with instructions to forward them to the complainant. The complainant further alleged that the crime was conspired and executed jointly by Nirupa Anil Kumar Dadania and Shyam, police said.

Based on the complaint, a case was registered, invoking Sections 308(3), 351(3), 352 and 61(2) read with Section 3(5) of the BNS and Section 3(2) of the SC, ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The suspects were reportedly summoned for questioning. Shyam was later produced before the Upparpally court and remanded to judicial custody on Thursday, police added.