In a dramatic turn of events in the bustling city of Bengaluru, a 60-year-old retired state government official found himself ensnared in a honeytrap that ended up costing him a staggering amount of over Rs 82 lakh. The city's police force, acting swiftly on the information, has successfully arrested three individuals in connection to this case: Reena Annamma, 40 years old, her accomplice Sneha, aged 30, and Lokesh, Sneha's 26-year-old husband.

Naresh (a pseudonym to protect his identity), a native of Srinagar, shared with the Jayanagar police the sequence of events that led to his unfortunate predicament. It all began innocently in April when a mutual acquaintance introduced him to Annamma. Portraying a distressing narrative, the friend explained that Annamma was in dire need of financial support due to her five-year-old son's battle with cancer.

Moved by her plight, Naresh met Annamma at a local hotel, generously offering her a sum of Rs 5,000 on their very first meeting. But that wasn't the end. Over time, under various pretexts and reasons, Annamma continuously borrowed money from the compassionate retiree.

However, things took a darker turn in the first week of May. Naresh recounted that during a rendezvous at a hotel near Huskur Gate, close to the Electronics City, Annamma unexpectedly propositioned him. Despite his refusal, Naresh alleged that he was coerced into the act under threats. This wasn't an isolated incident; the two continued meeting privately multiple times at the same location.

But, the plot thickened. Annamma introduced Naresh to her friend Sneha, who too began to borrow funds from him. To Naresh's horror, he soon found himself being blackmailed by both women. Leveraging intimate videos of their meetings, they threatened to share the content with his family. What was even more horrifying was the duo's threat to harm his daughter if he dared to disclose the extortion.

Panic-stricken, Naresh, in his desperate bid to protect his reputation and family, withdrew a considerable Rs 82 lakh from his Provident Fund, transferring it to the scheming pair. However, their greed knew no bounds. They soon demanded an additional Rs 42 lakh, pushing the distressed man to his limits. Unable to handle the relentless torment any longer, he turned to the police for aid.

Commenting on the case, a senior police officer detailed the charges filed against the trio, including extortion, criminal intimidation, and intentional insult with the objective of provoking public unrest.

P Krishnakant, DCP of the southern division, shared valuable insights: "Our investigations led to the apprehension of all three suspects. Not only have we frozen approximately Rs 25 lakh from their bank accounts, but we've also recovered about 300 grams of gold jewellery." DCP Krishnakant further added, "All three hail from Kodagu, and upon closer investigation, it appears they might be serial offenders. There are potentially other victims, but so far, none have come forward."

To provide more context on the culprits: Lokesh is employed at an estate in Madikeri. Sneha is a mother to a toddler. Meanwhile, Annamma alleges that she lost her husband a few years prior and subsequently resorted to befriending unsuspecting men and swindling them. Reports suggest that Lokesh was fully aware and complicit in the criminal endeavors orchestrated by the two women.