New Delhi, April 24: The Inter-State Cell (ISC) of the Delhi Police Crime Branch arrested a long-absconding accused on April 23 in connection with a high-profile blackmail and extortion case originating from Palam Vihar, Gurugram, Haryana. The accused allegedly extorted a total of Rs 18 lakh from a woman by threatening to circulate secretly recorded objectionable videos. The arrest was made near Tilak Marg, New Delhi, following a precision operation close to the Patiala House Courts complex.

How the Blackmail Racket Unfolded

The accused first came into contact with the victim during yoga classes he conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Over time, he allegedly cultivated a close personal relationship with her and, according to police, secretly recorded objectionable videos of their interactions without her knowledge or consent.

He initially used these recordings to extort Rs 3 lakh from the victim, assuring her the videos would be permanently deleted. Investigators revealed, however, that the accused retained copies and continued to misuse them — a calculated move that exposed a premeditated pattern of exploitation.

In March 2026, the accused escalated his demands by sharing the objectionable content directly with the victim's husband and threatening further circulation unless she paid an additional Rs 15 lakh. Cornered and fearing social damage, the victim formally approached police and lodged a complaint at Palam Vihar Police Station, Gurugram, on March 21, under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

Wife Caught Red-Handed, Accused Flees

During a sting operation on March 21, Gurugram Police apprehended the accused's wife, Nitu Sharma, red-handed while she was collecting the extortion money on his behalf. The main accused, however, managed to evade capture and went underground, frequently changing locations to throw investigators off his trail.

His flight triggered the formation of a dedicated multi-officer team within the Delhi Police Crime Branch, tasked with tracking him down using a combination of technical surveillance and human intelligence. The gravity and sensitivity of the case — involving digital blackmail, a vulnerable victim, and a suspect with a prior criminal record — made the operation a priority.

Arrest Near Patiala House Courts

A breakthrough came when the Crime Branch received specific intelligence indicating the accused was likely to visit the Patiala House Courts area in central New Delhi. Officers swiftly set up a trap and successfully apprehended him from Tilak Marg on April 23.

During interrogation, the accused reportedly confessed to deliberately retaining copies of the videos even after receiving the initial payment. He admitted that mounting financial difficulties pushed him to re-establish contact with the victim in March and escalate his demands by sending the content to her husband as a pressure tactic.

Accused Has Serious Criminal History

Investigations revealed that the accused is not a first-time offender. He was previously implicated in a murder case in Sahibabad, Uttar Pradesh, and spent approximately eight to nine years in judicial custody. After being granted bail in 2018, he began conducting yoga classes — the very platform he allegedly used to identify and exploit his victim.

This background raises significant questions about the adequacy of monitoring mechanisms for individuals with violent criminal histories who re-enter society and gain access to vulnerable individuals through trust-based professions such as wellness coaching.

Legal Proceedings and Further Investigation

Following his arrest, the accused was produced before the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM), New Delhi. The investigating officer from Gurugram Police has since taken custody of the accused for further interrogation and legal proceedings under the BNS.

Police officials confirmed that investigators are now actively probing whether the accused targeted other victims using a similar modus operandi — befriending women through yoga classes, recording objectionable content, and leveraging it for financial gain. This pattern, if confirmed, could point to a serial extortion racket rather than an isolated incident.

This case underscores the growing menace of digital blackmail and non-consensual intimate image (NCII) abuse in India, a category of crime that has seen a sharp rise in recent years, particularly following the pandemic-era boom in online and in-person wellness classes. Legal experts argue that stricter enforcement of digital privacy laws and faster judicial processing of such cases are urgently needed to deter perpetrators and protect victims.