Central Crime Branch (CCB) police have arrested three individuals, including a woman, for honey trapping a 46-year-old professor from Bengaluru and extorting Rs three crore.

The accused have been identified as Tabassum Begum (38) from Udupi, Azeem Uddin (41) from Karkala, and Abhishek (33).

The victim met Tabassum at her brother Azeem’s gym in RT Nagar in 2018. The friendship turned personal, with Tabassum claiming she needed financial help for higher studies and for raising her adopted child. Trusting her, the professor lent money.

In October 2018, Tabassum stopped going to the gym. When the complainant inquired about this from her elder brother, he informed that Tabasam’s husband had taken her away.

Upon discovering her marriage, the professor called her to ask why concealing the fact that she was married and had a child. Angered by this, Tabasam got angry and threatened to release their private photos and videos, blackmailing him for money.

In 2019, Azeem collected the extortion money from the complainant. Meantime, accused Abhishek, posed as a police officer, and threatened to send the professor to jail if he failed to pay.

The victim, fearing consequences, reportedly took a loan of Rs 3 crore and is repaying the loans in EMI of Rs 1.25 lakhs.

When the accused demanded more money, the professor filed a complaint with the CCB police, leading to their arrest.