Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 18 September 2024
Police Station Pahargaon has successfully cracked a honey trap and extortion case involving a local resident, resulting in the arrest of multiple suspects. The operation exposed a criminal scheme where the victim was lured into a compromising situation and subsequently blackmailed for cash and valuables.
According to police reports, the victim was targeted by a woman identified as Renuka Rathnam, a resident of Dairy Farm, who introduced herself as “Barbie” to initiate contact. She, along with her accomplices Farida Begam, a resident of Dollygunj, and Rinku Das from Garacharma, extorted money and valuables from the victim after placing him in a compromising position.
The incident unfolded on September 14 when the suspects allegedly photographed the victim and demanded ₹2 lakh, seizing his gold chain and ₹3,000 in cash. The following day, the group demanded an additional ₹1.2 lakh but later agreed to reduce the amount to ₹40,000 after negotiations.
Upon receiving the complaint, the police launched an operation to trap the extortionists. After verifying the details, the police laid a sting operation at Grillax Hotel in Bathu Basti, where they used pre-marked currency notes treated with phenolphthalein powder. During the raid, the police successfully recovered the tainted money from Renuka Rathnam and the victim’s gold chain from Farida Begam. A chemical hand wash test confirmed the involvement of the suspects in the crime.
The operation was led by Inspector Mohd Elias, Station House Officer of Police Station Pahargaon, with the assistance of Sub-Inspectors Jeevan, Jyoti, and Manish Narayan, Head Constable Limbu, and Police Constables Vinita Baxla, Rahul Kr. Maurya, and Janaki. The entire operation was conducted under the supervision of Mr. Vikas Swami, IPS, SDPO South Andaman, and the overall guidance of Ms. Niharika Bhatt, IPS, Superintendent of Police, South Andaman District.
The police have urged the public to remain vigilant against such fraudulent schemes and report any suspicious activities. Citizens with information related to similar incidents are encouraged to contact the police at helplines 100, 112, 03192-250525, or 03192-236641. The police have assured that the identity of informants will be kept confidential.
The bust highlights the ongoing efforts by the South Andaman Police to curb crime and protect the public from sophisticated extortion schemes.