Varanasi Police Nab Two in Honey Trap Extortion Scheme Targeting Local Jeweller
In a significant development, the Nandganj police in Ghazipur district, Varanasi, have made arrests in a disturbing honey trap extortion case. On Sunday night, authorities apprehended a woman identified as Snehlata Singh and her accomplice Bharat Singh. The duo stands accused of blackmailing a jeweller after filming an obscene video of him on March 27, leading to a multi-lakh rupee extortion racket.
Complaint Details and Police Investigation
Vaibhav Krishna, the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of the Varanasi range, provided crucial insights into the case on Monday. He revealed that jeweller Deepanshu Seth, a resident of Saidpur in Ghazipur who operates a jewellery business locally, approached him with a formal complaint on Saturday. According to the DIG, Seth reported a harrowing sequence of events that began with the recording of an objectionable video on March 27.
The extortion demands escalated rapidly. Initially, the perpetrators coerced Seth into transferring Rs 90,000 online. Later that same night, Bharat Singh and his associates allegedly visited Seth's residence, where they extorted an additional Rs 4.80 lakh in cash. The gang then upped the ante, demanding another Rs 20 lakh and threatening to release the compromising video on social media if he refused to comply.
Modus Operandi and Evidence Presented
In his detailed complaint, the jeweller outlined how the trap was set. He stated that Snehlata first contacted him on March 11, expressing interest in purchasing jewellery. Their conversations continued via WhatsApp messages on March 23-24. On March 27, Snehlata invited Seth to her house under the pretext of buying a gold chain.
When Seth arrived around 9 PM with the chain, the woman offered him tea. Soon after consuming the beverage, he began feeling drowsy. At this point, Snehlata clung to him and engaged in objectionable acts, while Bharat Singh, Bablu Pandit, and Anna—who were hiding in the house—filmed the entire incident. The gang immediately threatened to make the video viral unless Seth paid them Rs 25 lakh.
The initial extortion involved force. The jeweller alleged that the accused held him at gunpoint, compelling him to transfer Rs 90,000 to Snehlata's account. They later went to his home and took Rs 4.80 lakh. After living in fear for several days, Seth gathered courage and approached the DIG's office with his complaint, providing multiple pieces of evidence, including call recordings, WhatsApp messages, and transaction details.
Police Action and Legal Charges
DIG Vaibhav Krishna described the incident as a clear case of honey trap, emphasizing the strength of the evidence provided by Seth. Upon examining the materials, he directed Ghazipur police to register a formal case. The Nandganj police promptly lodged an FIR against Snehlata Singh, Bharat Singh, Bablu Pandit, and Anna.
The charges are severe and include:
- Wrongful confinement
- Criminal intimidation
- Extortion
- Voluntarily causing hurt
- Criminal conspiracy
Immediately after filing the FIR on Sunday, police arrested Snehlata and Bharat. Teams are currently conducting raids to apprehend the remaining two accused, Bablu Pandit and Anna, as the investigation continues to unfold.
