Pune:
The sleuths of Pune Anti-Terrorism Cell (PATC) arrested two persons on Tuesday, for blackmailing a 21-year-old management student and her family. The police action came after a complaint was lodged with the Crime Branch on Monday saying that the two were demanding Rs 50 lakh from the family as they had doctored porn images of the woman student.
Police officials said the two had threatened the family of defaming the management student by distributing a doctored pornographic CD containing her images all across the city. The suspects were identified as Atul Shirsath (21), an Erandwane resident, and Hrishikesh Pawar (19) of Bibvewadi.
The police said Atul, who hatched the plot, was a history-sheeter and had several cases lodged against him at the Deccan police station. Mr. Sunil Tambe, PI, PATC, said, "Atul used to work as a part-time driver with the complainant's family and had a fair knowledge about their financial condition. He along with Pawar hatched the plot to extort Rs 50 lakh."
According to the complainant, a few days ago she received a call from the duo demanding Rs 50 lakh. Her family approached the police and a trap was laid at Mitramandal Chowk, where the blackmailers were supposed to pick up the money.
Hrishikesh was nabbed red-handed while collecting money from the complainant's mother. "He said his accomplice, Atul, was at Pune railway station, following which he too was apprehended," said Tambe.