5 held over alleged blackmail racket using fake romantic relationships

The Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police has arrested five alleged members of a blackmail racket accused of luring men into homes or hotels through fake romantic relationships, recording compromising photos and videos, and extorting money by threatening to expose the material.

The arrestees are three men and two women: Jit Bhakta, alias Abdul Rahman, 38; Pritam Biswas, alias Anik Sheikh, 30; Arthajit Bhakta, alias Siddhartha, 20; Sabrin Kabir Prema, alias Neha, 22; and Sadia Yasmin, alias Mahi, 21.

DB Chief and Additional Commissioner Md Shafiqul Islam disclosed the arrests at a briefing at the DMP Media Centre on Sunday, October 25.

He said Jit was the alleged ringleader, while Pritam was his nephew and Sabrin was Pritam’s wife.

According to the DB chief, detectives began investigating after receiving complaints from four victims.

The suspects allegedly changed their residences and hideouts frequently and operated social media accounts using SIM cards registered under false identities, making them difficult to trace.

Detectives eventually tracked them through surveillance and information technology and arrested the five from a residential building in the Turag area.

Police recovered five mobile phones, three blank cheques and a torture belt during the operation.