Somashekhar’s son in blackmail row

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru, Jan. 9 Bengaluru police officials have arrested two persons so far in connection with the blackmail calls made to Karnataka Co-operation Minister S.T. Somashekhar’s son, Nishanth.

One of the accused, Rahul Bhatt, is said to be the son of a famous city-based astrologer while another accused is said to be Somashekhar’s former gunman. The cops are probing all possible angles and suspect the involvement of a Congress MLA’s daughter in the episode. The arrests were made following a complaint filed by Nishanth on December 27, which stated that one of his father’s close aides, Bhanu Prakash, had been receiving threatening calls from unknown persons.

The callers started blackmailing the official using morphed videos and pictures of Nishanth and an unknown woman.

Further in his complaint, Nishanth claimed that the accused shared edited video clips of him through WhatsApp and demanded several crores as ransom. They also threatened to make the videos viral if he failed to pay the demanded amount.

Sources claim the accused used a London-based SIM card to blackmail Nishanth. A FIR has been filed on the basis of the complaint. Meanwhile, the case took a political turn when the Congress MLA of Indi constituency in Vijayapura, Yashavanta Rayanagouda, was questioned about the SIM allegedly used to blackmail Nishanth. Speaking to the media, MLA Yashavanta said Central Crime Branch (CCB) officials had visited him on December 28 for an inquiry. “My daughter is pursuing her studies abroad and had handed over the SIM to one of her classmates Rakesh before going back on December 25,” he asserted.

He further said that the SIM was later given to the accused, Rahul Bhatt by Rakesh for using it for his college assignments. “The SIM was given in good faith. I’m shocked on seeing the news maligning me and my daughter,” he claimed.

Home Minister Araga Jnanendra said nothing can be confirmed till the inquiry is completed.