Bengaluru Woman Duped of ₹2.5 Crore by Boyfriend in Blackmail Scheme

December 7, 2024: Bengaluru: A 20-year-old woman from Bengaluru was swindled out of ₹2.5 crore by her boyfriend, who used intimate videos to blackmail her into giving him cash, luxury items, and even a high-end car. The harrowing ordeal, which unfolded over several months, finally came to light when the victim approached the police, leading to the boyfriend’s arrest.

The woman first met Mohan Kumar, the accused, while they were both in boarding school. Although they lost touch for a few years, they reconnected and fell in love. Kumar, promising to marry her, gained her trust and accompanied her on trips, during which he recorded intimate videos, allegedly for "personal use."

However, these videos soon became tools of coercion. Kumar ensured his face was not visible in some of the recordings and used them to threaten the woman, claiming he would upload the clips online unless she complied with his demands.

Fearing exposure, the victim secretly withdrew ₹1.25 crore from her grandmother’s account and transferred it to bank accounts provided by Kumar. She also handed him ₹1.32 crore in cash on multiple occasions. In addition to the money, Kumar coerced her into giving him expensive watches, jewellery, and a luxury car, even arranging for funds to be transferred to his father’s account.

When Kumar’s demands showed no signs of stopping, the woman mustered the courage to approach the police. Following her complaint, Mohan Kumar was arrested.

Bengaluru Police Commissioner B. Dayanand described the incident as "a well-planned crime." He stated, “The accused extorted ₹2.57 crore from the victim. So far, ₹80 lakh has been recovered."

This case underscores the importance of recognising manipulative relationships and the need for swift action in the face of blackmail and coercion. The investigation is ongoing, and efforts are being made to recover more of the extorted money.