Mangaluru shocker: 'Congress worker' among 2 held for extorting Rs 2.77 crore of bizman using obscene photos, suicide hoax

MANGALURU: Two persons have been arrested after a contractor alleged that two employees of his own company blackmailed him, extorted Rs 2.77 crore from him and threatened his life.The accused have been identified as Jitesh and Nizam alias Ibrahim. Nizam is reportedly associated with the Congress party, and photographs of him with senior party functionaries have gone viral.Following the case, the Dakshina Kannada District Youth Congress Committee has expelled Nizam on Tuesday. Nizam served as the general secretary of the party and has been expelled for his alleged involvement in anti-social activties that has dented the party's imageAccording to police sources, in January 2024, the complainant received a phone call from Jitesh, an employee of his company. Jitesh allegedly sent him obscene photographs relating to an illicit relationship and claimed to possess videos as well.He demanded Rs 35 lakh and threatened to make the material viral and send it to the complainant's wife if the money was not paid.Fearing damage to his reputation, the complainant met Jitesh at a hotel in the city. There, Jitesh allegedly threatened him again, saying he would not leave him alone unless he paid Rs 35 lakh. Out of fear, the complainant handed over two cheques of Rs 10 lakh each and another cheque for Rs 15 lakh from his bank account.Jitesh reportedly encashed the two Rs 10 lakh cheques, transferring Rs 20 lakh to himself. The Rs 15 lakh cheque could not be cleared due to insufficient funds in the account.In May, Jitesh allegedly visited the complainant's house again and demanded more money. The complainant then informed Nizam alias Ibrahim, who was also employed by his company. Nizam reportedly came to the complainant's house and took Jitesh away.About a week later, Nizam allegedly told the complainant that Jitesh had committed suicide after writing the complainant's name in a suicide note. He reportedly threatened that if photographs of the suicide note were made public, a criminal case would be registered against the complainant.Using this threat, Nizam allegedly collected Rs 2.57 crore from the complainant in several instalments.Later, the complainant reportedly saw Jitesh alive in Mangaluru. When he questioned Nizam about it, Nizam allegedly threatened him.On June 1, Jitesh allegedly again threatened the complainant and demanded another Rs 10 lakh.Fed up with the continued blackmail and threats from both men, the complainant approached the Urwa Police Station.