The Yelahanka police on Monday arrested a gang of six for allegedly honey trapping a 41-year-old private firm employee to extort ₹2 lakh from him on July 21.
The accused Raju Mane, 34, Sharanabasappa Baliger, 50, Abhishek, 19, Birbal Majjagi, 21, Shamsundar Pande, 20, and Sangeetha Sahni, 36, were arrested based on the complaint filed by the victim, a software engineer working with a prominent firm in Mahadevapura.
According to the police, Sangeetha befriended the victim on a dating app a month ago and chatted for a few days before deciding to meet. The duo met at a mall in Yelahanka and Sangeetha introducing herself as a single woman working as a business analyst at a private company and invited him home.
The duo reached her rented accommodation and while having liquor, a group of four men barged into the house and one among the claimed to be the owner of the house and accused them of indulging in illegal activities.
The accused checked Sangeetha’s bag and pulled out few sachets containing a white powder, which the police said was baking soda planted beforehand to deceive the techie. The accused started shouting at the duo for possessing drugs and consuming it. They threatened to call police and file a complaint against the duo .
Sangeetha pleaded innocence, ran and locked herself inside the bathroom, crying that her life was ruined and she would end her life. Meanwhile, the men began negotiating with the victim demanding ₹15 lakh to settle the matter.
After negotiation, the amount was brought down to ₹2 lakh and the victim borrowed a part of the money from his friend and transferred it to a account online mentioned by the accused ..
The accused dropped him on a bike to an isolated place with an assurance to arrange the rest of the money and transfer it to them. The victim managed to get transport and reached home and discussed the matter with his friends who suggested him to approach the police suspecting something amiss in the entire incident.
Based on the complaint, the police tracked down the accused based on the money trail. Probe revealed that the accused Sharanabasappa is a habitual offender involved in a similar crime in 2023 at Puttenahalli police station limits. The accused Sangeetha was earlier working as a dance bar girl and ganged up with the accused in the honey trapping business, the police said.
The police suspect that the accused might have cheated many people and investigations are on to ascertain their criminal background .
Published – July 28, 2025 09:11 pm IST
