Kannada news anchor Divya Vasantha arrested for allegedly extorting a spa owner in Bengaluru

Divya Vasantha approached theBengaluru spa owner with a pre-recorded video and demanded ₹15 lakh

Published on: Jul 12, 2024, 09:32:05 IST

By HT News Desk

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The Bengaluru police arrested Kannada news presenter Divya Vasantha on Thursday for her alleged involvement in the extortion from a spa owner in Indiranagar’s 100 feet road. She was reportedly arrested in Kerala and police brought her back to Bengaluru.

Kannada news anchor Divya Vasantha arrested for allegedly extorting a spa owner (Linkidin/DivyaVasantha)

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Earlier in this case, a person named Rajanukunte Venkatesh, who claimed to be the CEO of a local Kannada channel, and Divya Vasantha’s brother, Sandesh Vasantha, were arrested. According to reports, the three accused decided to extort money from the owner of ‘Tree Spa and Beauty Parlour’ in Indiranagar. They hired a woman from northeast and made her join as a masseuse in the targeted spa by the accused. Later, Sandesh Vasantha, the brother of Divya Vasantha visited the spa and recorded a video along with hired masseuse to make it look like the spa is running a prostitution racket.

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Divya Vasantha then approached the spa owner with the video and demanded ₹15 lakh. She also allegedly threatened the owner with telecasting the video on the local news channel if he did not give money. However, the owner claimed that he had only ₹1 lakh, but the accused demanded at least ₹8 lakh to delete the video.

On 1 July, the owner approached Jeevan Bhima Nagar police and filed a police complaint. It was also found that Rajanukunte Venkataesh is not associated with any news channel and three accused created a WhatsApp group to extort money from various business owners.

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HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

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