Thomas (Special correspondent)
The East Division police of Halasur police on Wednesday arrested a 21-year-old BCA student who was befriending women online with his fake profile and blackmailing them with their private photographs.
The accused has been identified as,Prapanch Nachappa,a BCA student studying in private college.
Based on the complaint filed by victim the Halasuru police inspector and his team track down Prapanch Nachappa a imposter student who used to blackmail women by opening fake accounts in the name of models on Instagram.
During investigation the accused confessed the crime and it is found that Since September last year the accused had blackmailed as many as 20 women,but luck ran out for him when one of the victim approached the police .
During investigation it was found that the accused was operating with a fake profile in the name of Pratiksha Bohra in Instagram and other social media and lure women offering modelling assignments to get their private pictures.
The accused would also offer money in return of the private photographs.However soon after getting their pictures he would blackmail them threaten to upload their pictures on social media if the ransom was not paid.
Probe revealed that the accused was operating the social media account since September last year.
It started during lock down as favourite part time but soon after succeeding in blackmailing he started it full time, a police officer, said .
The accused had blackmailed as many as 20 women so far but many of them fearing social stigma have not complained, the police said adding that the police are trying to contact them to get their statement, a police officer, said .
The accused has been arrested and charged under blackmail, extortion and also under various sections of the IT Act and remanded to judicial custody.
Finally Bengaluru Police Commissioner,Kamal Pant has appreciated Addl CP East, Subramanyeswara Rao,DCP East,Dr SD Sharanappa,ACP,Kumar D,PI,M Manjunath,PSI,Suresh and crime staff as,Hamsa,Karthik,Vinod Kumar,Devaraj,Nagaraj,Sangappa,Doulat Morre and others has been appreciated for the commendable and excellent investigation done by them in nabbing the conman a imposter student who used to blackmail and extort money from women a suitable reward will be given to the team for their exemplary work he added.
