Bangalore University student held for blackmail

Bengaluru: A 21-year-old philosophy student from Bangalore University was arrested by the Rajajinagar cops for allegedly blackmailing a jeweller’s minor son with his private pictures. The accused, Vishwanath, a resident of Varthur, had accessed the victim’s pictures after hacking into his Instagram account. He then called up the victim and demanded money to not make the photos public on social media and porn sites.

The victim, who was scared, did not inform his parents and agreed to pay Rs 12 lakh. He stole cash and silver articles from his father’s shop and gave them to Vishwanath in April last year.

But Vishwanath, having got the taste of money, started demanding more money from the victim a few months later, saying he still had those pictures.

Unable to arrange the money this time, the victim spilled the beans to his parents, who filed a complaint with the Jayanagar police. The police told the victim to call Vishwanath and ask him to collect the money. When he arrived at the pre-designated spot, the police, who had laid a trap, arrested him.

Vishwanath, a first-year philosophy student, has been booked for blackmailing and extortion. He was produced in court which remanded him in judicial custody.