Love trap: Bengaluru businessman held for duping woman of Rs 75 lakh; rapes her minor sister

BENGALURU: A 27-year-old textile businessman, Subham Shukla, a resident of Bagalagunte, north Bengaluru, who allegedly duped a woman of gold and cash worth over Rs 75 lakh and raped her minor sister, has been arrested.

Bagalagunte police file two separate cases against him — one under BNS for theft in a dwelling (Section 305) and cheating (Section 318), and another under the Pocso Act for raping a 16-year-old girl.

A senior officer said the victims' father lodged the complaint. Shukla has been remanded in judicial custody, and investigations are underway.

Police said Shukla, who runs a textile store in the city, was known to the family. Both families hail from Rajasthan and have lived in Bengaluru for years. He first befriended the younger sister and later trapped the 21-year-old woman in a relationship, promising marriage. The two lived together in an apartment in Bagalagunte for about 18 months.

During this time, Shukla allegedly forced the woman to part with money and stole 550 grams of gold ornaments and Rs 75 lakh from her house over multiple occasions. The father alleged that Shukla confined his daughter in a dark room for four months after she discovered he was married and had abused her sister. He was also reportedly involved with other women.

The accused allegedly gained the family's trust by posing as a friend. He also cheated the complainant's younger daughter of Rs 1.5 lakh using her credit card. After exhausting the woman's finances, Shukla allegedly harassed her and drove her out of the house following a dispute.

The woman later stayed with her grandmother and returned home on Nov 1. When the family tried to contact Shukla for an explanation, he was unreachable. With help from an acquaintance, the woman tracked him using mobile location data near Sankey Tank in Sadashivanagar.

The father then filed a complaint at Sadashivanagar police station, which was transferred to Bagalagunte police on Dec 13.

Police said Shukla confessed to taking about 200 grams of gold and a few lakhs in cash. "We are verifying online transactions and cash payments," a senior officer said.