
A 45-year-old woman from Thane has been arrested for allegedly extorting Rs 4.39 crore from a retired CEO of a cooperative bank. The woman threatened to defame him and file a rape case if he didn’t comply. The incident was reported by the Times of India. The complainant, a 66-year-old resident of Navi Mumbai, first met the woman in 2016 through a mutual contact when she visited a branch of his bank in Wadala.
Loan Process and Coercion
According to the Thane city police, the woman approached the retired CEO claiming that she needed a loan due to financial difficulties. However, during the loan process, the bank discovered that her documents were incomplete and requested a survey of her house in the Anand Nagar area of Kopri, Thane. In February 2017, when the retired CEO visited her home to check the documents, the woman coerced him into having physical relations with her. Following this, a loan of Rs 3 lakh was sanctioned with a monthly EMI of Rs 7,300.
Blackmail and Payments
A month later, the woman began blackmailing the CEO, threatening to expose nude photos he had sent her on WhatsApp to his family and colleagues if he didn’t pay Rs 8 crore. Under pressure, the complainant initially paid her Rs 5 lakh. Between 2017 and 2023, he made a total of 108 installments, amounting to Rs 4.39 crore. He managed to make these payments by selling a flat, withdrawing from his provident fund, and taking loans from various individuals.
Reporting to the Police and Arrest
Despite paying such a significant amount, the woman continued her demands, prompting the man to finally approach the police due to her relentless extortion. When the woman demanded another Rs 5 lakh, the complainant reported it to the police. In a trap set by the police, they negotiated with the woman to settle for Rs 1 lakh. She was arrested on Tuesday while accepting the additional Rs 1 lakh.
Ongoing Investigation
The police are currently conducting a detailed investigation into the case. They are tracing the money trail to determine where the extorted funds were invested or if any assets were purchased by the woman. Additionally, they are exploring whether anyone else was involved in the extortion scheme.