MUMBAI– A woman employed at a private bank in Mumbai has been arrested for allegedly filing a false rape complaint against her ex-boyfriend—an IT professional—in a bid to extort ₹1 crore (approximately $120,000), police said on Thursday.
According to officials, Dolly Kotak was taken into custody by the Charkop Police after she, along with her brother and four accomplices, illegally accessed the victim’s personal and financial data through the bank, leading to his arrest and eventual termination from his job.
The blackmail scheme unraveled when Kotak approached the victim’s sister and demanded ₹1 crore in exchange for withdrawing the rape complaint and providing a “No Objection” statement. The victim later persuaded a local magistrate of the extortion attempt, prompting the court to order a criminal investigation.
Police have booked Kotak, her brother Sagar (who is already out on bail in a separate POCSO case), and four others under Section 175(3) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), the Information Technology Act, and other applicable penal provisions.
Investigators revealed that three of Kotak’s associates—employees at the same bank—helped Sagar access the victim’s confidential data, including spending history, photos, and other personal details, which were then used to threaten and blackmail him.
The ordeal reportedly began in May 2024, when Kotak began sending the victim threatening messages demanding money. One message, cited by police, read: “You will never win and die in pain. Give money or die in jail.”
Despite initially resisting the threats, the victim ultimately lost his job after explicit photos and other “objectionable” content—allegedly stolen from his computer and social media accounts—were sent to his employer.
For nearly a year, Kotak had reportedly linked her mobile number to the victim’s email accounts, allowing her to monitor his movements, transactions, and personal communications as part of the ongoing blackmail. (Source: IANS)
