Chennai, Aug 8:
Five persons, including a woman lawyer, were arrested by the Choolaimedu police for allegedly luring a man to a house, assaulting him, and attempting to extort ₹5 lakh by threatening to expose a purported relationship.
The victim, Sudharsan (32), a medical representative residing in Choolaimedu, had married Meena (name changed) about six months ago. Police said that on July 17, Meena had gone to her mother’s house following a domestic issue, leaving Sudharsan alone at home.
During this period, Sudharsan allegedly expressed romantic interest to a 22-year-old woman, Namitha, who lived on the ground floor of the same building. Namitha reportedly recorded the conversation on her mobile phone and shared it with her friend Monisha (32), a lawyer.
According to the police, Monisha then hatched a plan to extort money from Sudharsan using the recording. Acting on this, Namitha contacted Sudharsan on July 27 and asked him to come to a friend’s house for a discussion.
When he arrived at the location, Monisha, her husband Balakrishnan, Namitha, and their associates including Sivaranchani and Ganesh allegedly confronted him. They threatened to reveal the recorded conversation to his wife and the police, claiming it would lead to his arrest, and demanded ₹5 lakh to keep the matter quiet.
When Sudharsan expressed inability to pay, the group allegedly assaulted him and confined him in a room. Later, they reduced the demand to ₹3 lakh and released him, asking him to arrange the money within two days.
Police said the accused again summoned Sudharsan on July 29, assaulted him, and continued to demand money. When he reiterated that he could not pay, they allegedly forced him to agree to bear Namitha’s house rent and other expenses on a monthly basis, warning him of dire consequences if he disclosed the matter.
Distressed by the ordeal, Sudharsan later informed his wife, who advised him to approach the police. On August 4, the couple lodged a complaint at the Choolaimedu police station.
Based on the complaint, police registered a case and arrested Namitha, Monisha, Balakrishnan, Ganesh and Sivaranchani. The accused were produced before a court and remanded in judicial custody.
Police said efforts are on to trace other persons suspected to be involved in the case.