Makeup artist held for blackmailing Kannada actor over explicit images, videos

Team Udayavani, Oct 26, 2022, 10:07 AM IST

A 37-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly blackmailing a Kannada actor by threatening to make her explicit pictures and videos public.

The arrested has been identified as Mahantesh, a Hebbal resident who happens to be the victim’s distant relative and also her make-up artist.

As per the complaint filed by the actor, the accused had sent her a WhatsApp message claiming to be in possession of her explicit pictures and videos. He demanded Rs 30 lakh from her by threatening to leak the photos.

Initially, the 35-year-old actor, who played lead roles in movies between 2013 and 2015, thought that someone was fooling with her and did not bother about the message. However later when the accused sent her a ‘sample’ picture she was shocked and reported the matter to the police.

Police probed the matter and were able to track down the accused Mahantesh. Reportedly the actor would often leave her mobile phone with Mahantesh during film shoots. Mahantesh had somehow managed to steal her mobile password and while surfing through her phone he found her semi-nude images and videos. He forwarded the same to his number with the intention of extorting money from the actor.

Police confiscated Mahantesh’s phone and deleted the actor’s pictures and videos from it.

Police said that the actor had a profile on a mobile app where users are paid money for uploading their images and videos.