In a shocking case of betrayal and crime, a 27-year-old textile businessman from North Bengaluru has been arrested for allegedly raping a minor and defrauding her elder sister of gold and cash collectively valued at over Rs 75 lakh. The accused, identified as Subham Shukla, a native of Rajasthan residing in Sadashivanagar, was produced before a court and remanded to 14 days of judicial custody.
Deception and Theft Under Guise of Relationship
According to the Bengaluru police, Shukla was known to the victims' family. The investigation, based on a complaint, reveals a calculated pattern of deceit. Police officials stated that Shukla first befriended the younger sister before manipulating the 21-year-old elder sister into a romantic relationship with false promises of marriage.
The couple subsequently lived together in an apartment for approximately 18 months. During this period, Shukla is accused of systematically coercing the woman into giving him money. He also allegedly committed multiple thefts at her family's residence, making off with 550 grams of gold and a significant amount of cash.
Confinement and Further Crimes Exposed
The situation took a more sinister turn when the woman discovered two horrifying truths: Shukla was already married, and he had sexually assaulted her minor sister. Following this confrontation, the accused allegedly confined the elder woman in a dark room for four months. After taking a large sum of her money, he subjected her to harassment and eventually forced her out of their shared home.
The traumatized woman first sought refuge with her grandmother before returning to her family home on November 1. When family members tried to contact Shukla for answers, he became unreachable. With help from an acquaintance, they used mobile tracking data to locate him in Sadashivanagar.
Police Action and Ongoing Investigation
The woman's father filed a formal complaint, which was transferred to the police station near Shukla's residence on December 13. Upon his arrest and questioning, Shukla confessed to stealing around 200 grams of gold and several lakhs in cash. Police have also revealed that he exploited the family's trust while maintaining relationships with multiple women and additionally defrauded the woman's sister of Rs 1.5 lakh using her credit card.
The accused has been booked under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the stringent Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act. Police are now delving deeper into his financial activities, investigating his online transactions and cash payments. Further legal proceedings in the case are awaited.
