Ahmedabad: A case of alleged honey-trapping and extortion has been uncovered in the city, in which a builder was reportedly targeted through the threat of releasing compromising videos to extract ₹10 crore. The Ahmedabad Cyber Crime Branch has arrested a woman and a local newspaper editor in connection with the case, while a third accused, said to have masterminded the plot, is still at large.

Police said the woman, identified as Sunita alias Annie Rajput, allegedly lured the builder into a relationship and secretly recorded explicit videos of their private encounters without his knowledge or consent. She later reportedly passed the footage to Ashwin Chauhan, Gujarat Pradesh NCP vice-president and editor of an Ahmedabad-based newspaper, bringing him into the conspiracy.

According to ACP Hardik Mankadia of the Cyber Crime Branch, Chauhan sent the videos to the victim on WhatsApp and allegedly began demanding ₹10 crore, threatening to circulate the footage on social media if the payment was not made. Alarmed by the threats, the builder approached the Cyber Crime Branch and lodged a formal complaint.

During questioning, both Rajput and Chauhan reportedly told investigators that the extortion plan had been devised by Rajput’s friend, Bini Gill, a gym trainer who is currently absconding. Police said a spy camera was allegedly used to record the videos without the victim’s consent, which were then handed over to Chauhan to carry out the blackmail.

Taking cognisance of the case, the Cyber Crime Branch has registered an FIR under Sections 308(2) and 351(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Section 66(e) of the Information Technology Act. Further investigation is underway to trace the absconding आरोपी and uncover the full extent of the network. DeshGujarat