A disturbing case of online exploitation has come to light, where a 21-year-old BCA graduate was allegedly extorted of gold and cash worth ₹14.5 lakh by a man she befriended on Instagram.
Friendship turns into blackmail
The complaint was filed by the victim’s father, M. Muniyappa (56), a resident of Samanduru village in Anekal. The accused, identified as Praveen from Kaggalipura, was arrested on Wednesday following the complaint lodged on March 6.
According to police, the victim came into contact with Praveen about a year ago while working on a college project. He had initially offered to assist her with the project, gradually gaining her trust.
However, the situation reportedly took a dark turn when the accused began blackmailing the woman using her private photographs and videos.
Extortion over several months
Investigations revealed that since July 2025, the accused had been coercing the victim into handing over valuables. Under threat of exposing her personal content to family members, she allegedly gave him around 200 grams of gold and ₹5 lakh in cash.
The gold ornaments were reportedly saved for her sister’s upcoming wedding, making the loss even more distressing for the family.
The crime came to light when her father accessed the family locker to arrange funds for the wedding and discovered the valuables missing.
Accused targeted women online
Police officials stated that Praveen is currently unemployed and is suspected of targeting women through Instagram and other social media platforms. His mobile phone has been seized and is under forensic analysis to determine if he has victimised others using similar methods.
Authorities have taken the accused into custody and have managed to recover some of the stolen cash and ornaments.
Case registered, warning issued
A case has been registered against Praveen under charges of extortion, cheating, and criminal breach of trust. Police have urged the public, especially young social media users, to exercise caution while interacting with strangers online.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the risks associated with digital interactions and the need for awareness around online safety and privacy.