Bhatkal, August 24, 2025 – The Bhatkal City Police in Uttara Kannada District arrested three individuals on August 20, 2025, for extorting a complainant using virtual numbers. The accused, identified as Mohammad Faris (20, Abuhurera Colony, Bhatkal), Mohammad Arshad (22, Musanagar, Bhatkal), and Aman (20, Haladi 76 Janata Colony, Kundapur), were remanded to judicial custody following their arrest.
The case began when the complainant filed a report at Bhatkal City Police Station at 11:00 AM on August 20, 2025, detailing threats received on August 16, 2025, at 8:35 PM. An unknown caller, using a virtual number, claimed to possess private photos and videos of the complainant’s daughter, demanding ₹20 lakh to prevent their public release. Subsequent calls on August 18 and 19, 2025, from numbers +31 970105***** and +31 97010******, reduced the demand to ₹15 lakh while continuing the threats against the complainant and his wife. A case was registered under Section 308(2) of the Indian Penal Code (now replaced by Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, Section 351(2) for criminal intimidation) under Crime No. 97/2025.
A special team, formed under the guidance of Superintendent of Police Deepan M.N. and Deputy Superintendent Mahesh M.K., was led by Police Inspector Diwakar P.M. and PSI Naveen S. Nayak. The team, including officers Dinesh Nayak, Vinayak Patil, Nagaraj Mogera, Mahantesh Hiremath, Kashinath Kotagunasi, Lokesh Katti, Mahesh Amagotha, Raghavendra Gowda, Jagadish Nayak, and technical staff Baban and Udaya Gunaga, traced the virtual numbers and apprehended the accused. The operation was praised for its efficiency, with all involved officers congratulated.