In a shocking case of betrayal and crime, a 27-year-old textile businessman from Bengaluru has been arrested for allegedly defrauding a woman of cash and gold worth over Rs 75 lakh and raping her 16-year-old sister. The accused, identified as Subham Shukla, a resident of Bagalagunte in north Bengaluru, was known to the victim's family.
Deception and Theft Over 18 Months
According to police, both families originally hail from Rajasthan and have lived in Bengaluru for years. Shukla, who runs a textile store in the city, first befriended the younger sister before trapping the 21-year-old woman in a relationship with promises of marriage. The couple lived together in a Bagalagunte apartment for approximately 18 months.
During this period, Shukla allegedly forced the woman to part with her money and systematically stole from her family. The thefts included 550 grams of gold ornaments and a staggering Rs 75 lakh in cash, taken on multiple occasions. He also reportedly cheated the complainant's younger daughter of Rs 1.5 lakh using her credit card.
Confinement and Escape
The situation turned darker when the woman discovered Shukla was already married and had abused her minor sister. The victims' father alleged that Shukla then confined his daughter in a dark room for four months. After exhausting her finances, Shukla allegedly harassed the woman and drove her out of the house following a dispute.
The woman found refuge with her grandmother and returned to her family home on November 1. When the family tried to confront Shukla, he was unreachable. With help from an acquaintance, the woman tracked his mobile location near Sankey Tank in Sadashivanagar.
Legal Action and Arrest
The father filed a formal complaint at the Sadashivanagar police station, which was later transferred to the Bagalagunte police on December 13. The police have registered two separate cases against Shukla.
The first case is under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for theft in a dwelling (Section 305) and cheating (Section 318). The second case is under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act for raping the 16-year-old girl.
A senior police officer stated that Shukla has confessed to taking about 200 grams of gold and a few lakhs in cash. "We are verifying online transactions and cash payments," the officer added. Shukla has been remanded to judicial custody, and investigations are ongoing. Police also indicated he was reportedly involved with other women.
