Homeguard arrested for extorting money from couple in Bengaluru

This is the fourth case reported in the city of patrolling policemen extorting money from people in the last few months.

The Whitefield division police on Tuesday initiated an inquiry after a 25-year-old woman from Delhi, who had come to Bengaluru to visit her friend, tweeted that she was harassed by a constable who extorted money through UPI. He has now been identified as Manjunath Reddy, a homeguard attached to the BBMP on patrolling at Kundalahalli lake on Saturday.

The victim, identified as Arsha Latif, clicked a photo of the accused constable’s bike and posted a complaint on social media tagging the city police commissioner and other senior police officers seeking action. This is the fourth case reported of patrolling policemen extorting money from people in the last few months.

As the post went viral, it prompted the DCP (Whitefield) to direct Assistant Commissioner of Police (Marathahalli Sub-division) to conduct an inquiry and submit a report for necessary action.

“We have arrested Manjunath Reddy V. He is not a policeman but a homeguard attached to the BBMP. The police are filing an FIR charging him under extortion,” said S Girish, DCP, Whitefield division.

Ms. Arsha came to Bengaluru last weekend to see her friend who had recently moved to the city. The duo met and went to Kundahalli lake.

Suddenly, a policeman emerged out of nowhere and began clicking their pictures and questioning them. He objected to their sitting on the lake benches without permission and accused them of smoking. He then threatened to book them and demanded that they come to the station.

Unable to bear his harassment, her friend paid the constable ₹1,000 through mobile transfer, following which he left. Arsha clicked a picture of his bike from behind and later posted it along with her ordeal on social media. The police control room staff called her soon after, asking for the transaction details.