A 32-year-old woman in Bengaluru was allegedly assaulted, threatened with the online release of private videos, and extorted for more than Rs 17 lakh by a man identified as Smaroop Gowda.

According to police, the woman met Gowda through Facebook in 2022, and the two soon began communicating via phone and meeting regularly.

Gowda initially told her he was facing financial difficulties due to a pending court case and requested her financial assistance. Trusting him, she gave him Rs 4.42 lakh.

Officials said Gowda later demanded additional money, threatening to make her private videos public.

Under duress, she reportedly paid him another Rs 12.82 lakh. When she asked for the money to be returned, Gowda allegedly started avoiding her calls, reported NDTV .

The woman’s complaint further

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