Kochi: In a shocking case of corporate extortion, a couple has been arrested for allegedly blackmailing an IT company owner operating from Infopark, Kakkanad. The accused — Swetha Babu, a former employee of the company, and her partner Krishna Raj, a resident of Chavakkad, Thrissur — were apprehended by the Ernakulam Central police on Tuesday.
According to police sources, the duo threatened to frame the company’s owner, Venugopal, in a fabricated sexual assault case and spread defamatory allegations unless he complied with their financial demands.
Initially, they withdrew Rs50,000 from Venugopal’s account using fraudulent means and coerced him into handing over signed cheque leaves and agreement documents. The next day, they summoned two associates of Venugopal — including company director Bimal Raj — to a hotel, where they escalated their demands.
The accused forced Venugopal to sign additional documents and demanded an enormous sum of Rs30 crore. Of this, Rs10 crore was immediately transferred to Krishna Raj’s bank account. The remaining Rs20 crore was to be paid via two post-dated cheques.
Following a complaint filed by Venugopal, police launched a swift investigation that led to the arrests. Both accused are now in custody, and further inquiry is underway.
