The Delhi Police Cyber Cell has arrested three individuals in connection with an alleged sextortion cyber fraud in which a Delhi resident was reportedly blackmailed into paying approximately ₹5.80 lakh.
Police allege that the victim was persuaded to remove his clothes during a WhatsApp video call with an unknown woman. An objectionable video was then allegedly recorded and used to threaten him.
The arrested accused have been identified as:
- Rajesh, aged 18
- Kunal, aged 22
- Imran, aged 23
All three are residents of Faridabad, Haryana.
Investigators are examining whether the accused were connected to a larger organised sextortion network operating from the Mewat region.
The allegations remain subject to investigation and judicial determination.
Case Registered at North-East District Cyber Police Station
The police action was taken in connection with e-FIR number 00126/2026, registered at the Cyber Police Station of Delhi’s North-East district.
According to police, the case was registered under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including Sections:
- 308
- 318(4)
- 319
- 340
The precise applicability of each legal provision will be examined during the investigation and subsequent court proceedings.
WhatsApp Video Call Received on May 6
The complainant, identified by police as K.L. Tripathi, is a resident of Ganga Vihar in Delhi.
According to investigators, he received a WhatsApp video call from an unknown woman on May 6, 2026.
The caller allegedly introduced herself as one of the complainant’s social media contacts and attempted to establish familiarity during the conversation.
Police allege that she then persuaded the complainant to remove his clothes during the video call.
Objectionable Video Allegedly Recorded
Investigators believe that the video call was recorded without the victim’s informed consent.
The recording was allegedly used as the foundation of the extortion attempt.
Sextortion scams typically involve criminals obtaining or fabricating intimate material and threatening to:
- Send it to family members
- Share it with social media contacts
- Upload it publicly
- Forward it to employers
- Initiate a false police case
- Cause reputational damage
The fear of humiliation often pressures victims into making immediate payments.
Repeated Calls Began Soon Afterwards
Police said the victim began receiving repeated calls from multiple unknown numbers shortly after the video call.
The callers allegedly posed as:
- Police officers
- Social media representatives
- Government officials
- Investigating authorities
The use of multiple identities may have been intended to create the impression that the matter had already reached several official agencies.
Threats of Arrest and Public Exposure
According to the complaint, the callers allegedly threatened to:
- Make the video public
- Circulate it among the victim’s contacts
- Initiate criminal proceedings
- Have the victim arrested
- Damage his reputation
The suspects allegedly demanded payments in exchange for deleting the video or stopping the supposed legal action.
Such claims are commonly used in sextortion fraud to combine embarrassment with fear of law enforcement.
₹5.80 Lakh Paid in Multiple Instalments
Under pressure, the complainant allegedly transferred around ₹5.80 lakh through several payment channels.
Police said the payments were made using:
- Different bank accounts
- UPI IDs
- QR codes
- Multiple instalments
The use of several accounts may have been intended to fragment the financial trail and reduce the possibility of immediate detection or freezing.
Victim Approached Cyber Police
After realising that the demands would continue and that he had likely been deceived, the complainant approached the Cyber Police Station.
A formal complaint was filed, following which investigators began examining:
- Phone numbers used by the callers
- WhatsApp communications
- Payment records
- Bank accounts
- UPI identifiers
- QR codes
- Technical evidence
The complaint triggered a focused cyber and financial investigation.
Special Investigation Team Formed
Police constituted a special cyber investigation team to identify those involved.
The investigation relied on a combination of:
- Technical analysis
- Financial tracking
- Bank account verification
- Mobile number examination
- Device-related evidence
- Suspect questioning
Financial records ultimately provided an important lead in identifying the accused.
Financial Trail Led to Rajesh and Kunal
Investigators traced a portion of the cheated amount to bank accounts allegedly connected with Rajesh and Kunal.
Police arrested Rajesh on June 17, 2026.
Further examination of bank transactions and questioning reportedly led investigators to identify Kunal, who was later arrested.
Authorities are examining whether the bank accounts were directly controlled by the accused or were provided to others for receiving suspected fraud proceeds.
Imran Allegedly Withdrew Money From ATMs
During the continuing investigation, the alleged role of Imran also emerged.
Police claim that Imran was involved in withdrawing the cheated money from ATMs.
A mobile phone and SIM card allegedly used in connection with the offence were recovered from his possession.
Investigators may review ATM surveillance footage and withdrawal records to determine:
- Dates and times of withdrawals
- Locations of ATMs
- Amounts withdrawn
- Whether other individuals were present
- How the cash was distributed
Mobile Phone and SIM Card Recovered
The seized phone and SIM card are expected to undergo forensic examination.
Police may analyse:
- Call records
- WhatsApp data
- Contact lists
- Payment messages
- Images and videos
- Deleted files
- Location history
- Links to other suspects
Digital evidence could help identify additional members of the alleged network.
Mewat Network Connection Under Investigation
During sustained interrogation, the accused allegedly disclosed links with an organised sextortion network operating from the Mewat region of Rajasthan.
Police are investigating whether the arrested individuals were:
- Independent participants
- Account providers
- Cash withdrawal agents
- Call handlers
- Technical facilitators
- Members of a larger syndicate
The claimed disclosure must be corroborated through independent evidence before it can be relied upon in court.
Other Network Members May Be Identified
Authorities are examining communication and financial links to identify other individuals who may have participated in the alleged operation.
A sextortion network may involve separate participants responsible for:
- Initiating video calls
- Recording victims
- Editing or storing videos
- Making threatening calls
- Impersonating officials
- Managing mule accounts
- Withdrawing funds
- Recruiting account holders
Further arrests remain possible if additional evidence is recovered.
No Previous Criminal Involvement Found So Far
Police stated that no previous criminal involvement of the three arrested accused had been found at the preliminary stage.
However, investigators are continuing to review:
- Their bank account history
- Digital transactions
- Device records
- Mobile number usage
- Links to earlier complaints
- Possible involvement in other cases
The absence of an earlier criminal record does not determine their responsibility in the present case.
How Sextortion Scams Typically Operate
Sextortion fraud frequently follows a predictable sequence:
- A stranger sends a social media request or video call.
- The caller presents an attractive or familiar identity.
- The victim is encouraged to enter a private or intimate conversation.
- The interaction is secretly recorded or manipulated.
- The victim receives threats from multiple numbers.
- Callers pose as police, lawyers or platform officials.
- Payments are demanded for deleting the content or avoiding arrest.
- Further demands continue after the first payment.
Paying the fraudsters rarely guarantees that the threats will stop.
Videos May Also Be Manipulated
Not every sextortion case begins with a genuine intimate recording.
Cybercriminals may use:
- Edited videos
- Screen recordings
- Morphed images
- Deepfake content
- Pre-recorded footage
- Fake screenshots
Victims may be threatened even when the content is fabricated or misleading.
The credibility of the material should therefore not prevent immediate reporting to police.
Fake Police Calls Increase Pressure
After obtaining a video, fraudsters may pose as police officials to convince victims that a criminal complaint has been filed.
Warning signs include:
- Demands for payment to avoid arrest
- Requests to transfer money to personal accounts
- Threats made only through WhatsApp
- Refusal to provide verifiable station details
- Claims that payment will close the case
- Pressure to keep the matter secret
Legitimate police officials do not ordinarily demand private payments to stop criminal proceedings.
Social Media Representatives Also Impersonated
Fraudsters may also claim to represent a social media company and demand money for:
- Deleting a video
- Blocking an account
- Preventing a public upload
- Closing a complaint
- Removing content from servers
Genuine platforms do not generally require users to transfer money to individuals, UPI IDs or QR codes for content removal.
Do Not Continue Negotiating
People facing sextortion should avoid prolonged communication with the blackmailers.
Continued engagement may provide criminals with:
- Additional personal information
- Evidence of fear
- New payment opportunities
- Access to family details
- More time to intensify pressure
Victims should preserve the evidence, stop responding and contact the authorities.
Preserve All Digital Evidence
Before blocking the numbers, victims should retain:
- Screenshots
- Phone numbers
- WhatsApp profiles
- Chat messages
- Call logs
- Payment receipts
- QR codes
- UPI IDs
- Bank account details
- Threatening audio or video
This information may assist police in tracing devices, accounts and financial transactions.
Report Without Fear or Embarrassment
Victims often delay reporting because they fear social embarrassment.
However, delayed reporting can allow criminals to:
- Transfer or withdraw funds
- Delete digital evidence
- Target additional people
- Intensify threats
- Change their phone numbers
Law enforcement agencies routinely handle sensitive cybercrime complaints, and early reporting can improve the prospects of intervention.
Contact Cybercrime Authorities Immediately
A person who receives sextortion threats should:
- Stop making payments.
- Call the cyber fraud helpline 1930 where financial transfers are involved.
- File a complaint on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal.
- Inform the local cyber police station.
- Contact the bank or payment platform.
- Request freezing of beneficiary accounts.
- Preserve all available evidence.
The faster the financial fraud is reported, the greater the possibility of stopping further movement of funds.
Privacy Settings Can Reduce Exposure
Users should review privacy settings on social media and messaging platforms.
Recommended steps include:
- Restricting profile photographs
- Hiding contact lists where possible
- Limiting visibility of personal information
- Rejecting unknown video calls
- Avoiding intimate interaction with strangers
- Using two-factor authentication
- Reviewing connected devices
Criminals may study public profiles to identify relatives, employers and friends for use in blackmail threats.
Families and Organisations Should Encourage Reporting
Sextortion succeeds partly because victims fear judgment.
Families, employers and institutions should create an environment in which victims can report threats quickly without shame.
An early, supportive response can prevent:
- Repeated payments
- Severe emotional distress
- Isolation
- Destruction of evidence
- Escalation of blackmail
The focus should remain on stopping the criminal conduct rather than blaming the victim.
Investigation Continues
Delhi Police are continuing to examine:
- Bank accounts
- UPI transactions
- QR-code payments
- Mobile devices
- SIM cards
- ATM withdrawals
- Possible links with Mewat-based suspects
- Involvement in additional cybercrime cases
The objective is to identify all participants, determine the complete financial trail and assess whether the accused were part of a broader organised network.
Any determination of guilt will be made by the competent court after completion of the investigation and due legal process.
Shunyatax Global Insight
Shunyatax Global says that sextortion is primarily a psychological and financial crime built on fear, shame and artificial urgency. Victims should understand that paying once rarely ends the demands; it often confirms to the criminals that further pressure may succeed. Immediate reporting, preservation of digital evidence and rapid notification to banks are therefore essential. Public awareness must also focus on removing the stigma around reporting intimate-content blackmail, because silence is one of the strongest tools available to sextortion networks.