Udupi: Udupi Town police have arrested two men for allegedly attempting to extort ₹5 lakh from a family by falsely claiming that the complainant’s deceased son had an outstanding debt linked to a diamond business. The accused allegedly contacted the family through WhatsApp and threatened them when the demand was refused.
The accused have been identified as Sajid of Santhosh Nagar and Syed Saif Ahmed, 40, from Kunigal taluk in Tumakuru district. Police said the suspects allegedly targeted the family after the death of the complainant’s son, Ajith Padiyar, who had died around eight years ago.
According to the complaint, the alleged extortion attempt began with a WhatsApp call in Hindi on July 2. The caller claimed that Ajith had conducted diamond business with him and that the family was required to pay ₹5 lakh as outstanding dues.
The complainant rejected the demand after informing the caller that his son had died several years earlier. However, the alleged threats reportedly continued, with the accused allegedly contacting another member of the family who was in Dubai.
WhatsApp call used to demand ₹5 lakh
Police said an unidentified person contacted the complainant through WhatsApp and demanded ₹5 lakh.
The caller allegedly told the complainant that his deceased son, Ajith Padiyar, had been involved in diamond business and had left an unpaid amount of ₹5 lakh.
The complainant informed the caller that Ajith had died eight years ago and refused to make the payment.
The alleged demand nevertheless continued, according to the police complaint.
The incident subsequently came to the attention of Udupi Town police, who registered a case and began investigating the identity of the people behind the calls.
Family allegedly threatened after refusing payment
After the complainant refused to pay, the alleged callers reportedly contacted his second son, Amit, who was in Dubai.
Police said the accused allegedly threatened to cause trouble for the wife of the deceased man’s elder son, who was living in the family’s hometown, if the ₹5 lakh was not paid.
The alleged threats increased the seriousness of the complaint, prompting police to begin efforts to identify those responsible for the calls.
The case highlights how fraudsters can exploit family relationships and personal information while making financial demands.
Police launch investigation
Following the complaint, Udupi police formed a special team to investigate the alleged extortion attempt.
The operation was conducted under the guidance of Udupi district Superintendent of Police Hariram Shankar, IPS, Additional SP Sudhakar Naik and DySP Belliyappa.
The special team was formed under the leadership of Udupi Town police station inspector Mahesh Prasad P.
Investigating officer PSI-2 Ratnakar K and police personnel Prasanna C, Jeevan Kumar, Mallaiah Hiremath and Hemanth Kumar were part of the team.
The investigation focused on identifying the people behind the calls and establishing how the alleged suspects were connected to the extortion attempt.
Two accused arrested
Police eventually arrested the two accused in connection with the case.
According to the police, one accused was arrested on July 20, while the second was arrested on August 26.
The accused were identified as Sajid of Santhosh Nagar and Syed Saif Ahmed, 40, a resident of Kunigal taluk in Tumakuru district.
Their arrests followed the investigation into the alleged threats and the demand for money from the complainant’s family.
Police have not stated that the accused successfully received the demanded ₹5 lakh.
Police say demand was based on false claim
The central allegation in the case is that the accused falsely claimed that the complainant’s deceased son had an unpaid financial obligation.
The complainant reportedly knew that the claim could not be genuine because his son had died eight years earlier.
The alleged attempt to use the deceased man’s name to demand money from his family formed the basis of the extortion complaint.
The case demonstrates the importance of verifying financial claims before making payments, particularly when demands are made through unfamiliar phone numbers or messaging applications.
Threats allegedly extended to family members
The alleged extortion attempt did not remain limited to the complainant.
Police said the accused also contacted Amit, the complainant’s second son, who was in Dubai.
The alleged threat involving the deceased man’s daughter-in-law was reportedly intended to put additional pressure on the family to make the payment.
Such threats can create significant fear and emotional pressure, particularly when criminals claim knowledge of family members and their whereabouts.
Complaint filed at Udupi Town police station
Following the alleged calls and threats, the family approached Udupi Town police.
A formal complaint was registered, allowing investigators to begin tracing the people involved in the calls.
The police team then worked to identify the accused and gather information related to the alleged extortion attempt.
The arrests indicate that investigators were able to establish the identities of two people allegedly connected to the case.
Investigation involved special police team
The case was investigated by a dedicated team working under senior police officers.
The involvement of the district police leadership reflects the seriousness with which the alleged extortion complaint was treated.
The team included officers from Udupi Town police station as well as other police personnel.
Investigators are expected to examine the circumstances surrounding the calls and the alleged financial demand as part of the case.
Accused sent to judicial custody
After their arrests, the two accused were produced before a court.
They were subsequently remanded to judicial custody, according to police.
The investigation will determine the circumstances surrounding the alleged extortion attempt and the roles played by the accused.
As the legal process continues, the allegations against the accused remain subject to investigation and judicial proceedings.
How the alleged extortion attempt unfolded
The sequence of events, based on the police account, began on July 2 when the complainant received a WhatsApp call.
The caller allegedly claimed that the deceased son had an outstanding diamond-business payment of ₹5 lakh.
The complainant rejected the demand after informing the caller that his son had died eight years earlier.
The alleged callers then reportedly contacted another son living in Dubai and threatened to trouble a family member if the payment was not made.
The family subsequently approached Udupi Town police.
The investigation led to the arrest of two suspects, one on July 20 and another on August 26.
Digital communication under scrutiny
The alleged use of WhatsApp in the incident is significant.
Messaging applications are increasingly used for communication in financial fraud and extortion cases because they allow callers to contact victims without meeting them physically.
In this case, the alleged demand was made through a WhatsApp call in Hindi.
Police investigations into such cases can involve examining call details, digital communication and other information that may help establish the identity and involvement of suspects.
Family refused to pay
An important factor in the case was the complainant’s decision not to comply with the demand.
After being told that the alleged debt belonged to his deceased son, the complainant informed the caller that Ajith had been dead for around eight years.
Instead of accepting the explanation, the alleged callers reportedly continued their efforts by contacting another family member.
The subsequent complaint allowed police to intervene and investigate the alleged threats.
Police response highlights need for vigilance
The case serves as a reminder that families should exercise caution when receiving unexpected demands for money, particularly when the caller claims that a deceased or distant family member owes a large amount.
Any demand involving alleged business debts or financial liabilities should be independently verified before money is transferred.
Threats should also be reported to the police rather than being handled privately.
In cases involving digital communication, preserving messages, phone numbers and other available information can help investigators.
Udupi police continue legal process
With the two accused in judicial custody, the legal process will now continue.
The police investigation will establish the evidence supporting the allegations and determine whether further action is required.
The court will consider the matter according to the applicable legal procedure.
The arrests represent an important step in the investigation, but the final determination of guilt will depend on the judicial process.
No payment reported
The police account does not indicate that the alleged ₹5 lakh demand was successfully paid by the family.
Instead, the complainant rejected the demand and approached the police after the alleged threats continued.
The fact that the family did not make the payment may have prevented a direct financial loss, although the alleged threats caused concern among family members.
Awareness can prevent financial fraud
Cases involving false claims of outstanding debts underline the importance of verifying unexpected financial demands.
People should be particularly cautious when a caller creates urgency, threatens family members or insists that money be transferred immediately.
A legitimate financial claim should be supported by appropriate documents and verifiable information.
Where a caller refuses to provide proof or resorts to threats, approaching the police is a safer course of action.
Importance of reporting threats
The Udupi case also demonstrates the importance of reporting alleged extortion attempts at an early stage.
If victims comply with an initial demand, criminals may continue making additional demands.
Reporting the incident can help authorities investigate the source of the calls and potentially prevent further victims from being targeted.
Families facing similar situations should retain relevant communication records and approach law enforcement agencies.
Conclusion
Udupi: Udupi Town police have arrested two men for allegedly attempting to extort ₹5 lakh from a family by falsely claiming that the complainant’s deceased son owed money from a diamond business. The alleged demand was made through WhatsApp, and the family was reportedly threatened after refusing to pay.
The accused, identified as Sajid and Syed Saif Ahmed, were arrested on July 20 and August 26 respectively and later remanded to judicial custody. The case was investigated by a special team formed under the supervision of senior Udupi police officers.
The incident highlights the need for caution when receiving unexpected financial demands, particularly those involving deceased relatives or alleged business debts. People who face threats or suspicious payment requests should verify the claims and report the matter to the police rather than responding to pressure from unknown callers.