Pramesh S Jain
A social media influencer has been accused of blackmailing a city-based cosmetic clinic owner and demanding money by threatening to leak his private photos and videos,police said.
The accused has been identified as Sadhana Shetty, while the complainant,Karthik (31),owns a makeup clinic in Jayanagar and is a married man.
According to the complaint,Karthik came across Sadhana Shetty on Instagram while looking for influencers to promote his clinic.
The two first met at a cafe in Jayanagar in August 2024 to discuss promotional activities.Over time,their professional interaction allegedly turned personal.
Police said Sadhana Shetty later allegedly used their private conversations,photos,and videos to blackmail Karthik.
She is accused of threatening to send the material to his wife and family members and demanding Rs.1.5 crore.
Fearing reputational damage,Karthik reportedly paid Rs.5 lakh in cash,along with valuables including a ring worth Rs.35,000,a gold chain worth Rs.70,000,and an iPhone valued at around Rs.1.5 lakh.
However,the accused allegedly continued to demand more money.
When Karthik refused to meet further demands,the accused is said to have shared the private content with his wife,leading to domestic discord.
The complainant also alleges that she created a scene near his clinic and claimed to have stored the data on a pen drive and on mobile phones belonging to her mother and friends.
Based on Karthik’s complaint,Jayanagar police have registered an FIR and initiated an investigation.
The accused was summoned for questioning and has denied all allegations.Police have asked the complainant to provide supporting evidence and are likely to issue further notices as part of the probe.Further investigation is underway.
