In a startling case of alleged corruption, a 35-year-old former journalist has been arrested in Bengaluru for attempting to extort a massive sum of money from three police inspectors. The accused, identified as Sharath Sharma Kalagaru, a resident of Windsor Layout, reportedly demanded Rs 15 lakh to prevent the broadcast of damaging news about the officers.
The Extortion Plot and Key Allegations
According to a formal complaint filed by Bagalur police sub-inspector Ramesh Bandrada, the incident unfolded on December 28, 2025. Sharath Sharma Kalagaru allegedly contacted Bandrada over the phone. He claimed to possess information and evidence showing that three inspectors—Chethan Kumar of Kothanur, Ramakrishna Reddy of Avalahalli, and Srinivas of Bagaluru police stations—were colluding with drug peddlers.
The former journalist then issued a threat. He stated that this "news" would be aired on a news channel. To stop the broadcast, which could lead to their suspension, he demanded Rs 5 lakh from each inspector, totaling Rs 15 lakh.
Police Action and Legal Proceedings
Sub-inspector Ramesh Bandrada acted swiftly. He recorded the WhatsApp calls made by Sharath and took screenshots of the messages as evidence. After gathering this proof, the police registered a First Information Report (FIR) on Monday, December 30, 2025.
The case was filed not only against Sharath Sharma Kalagaru but also against the owner of BTV Kannada news channel and one of its reporters. They have been booked under Section 308 (6) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which deals with punishment for putting a person in fear of injury for extortion. Following his arrest, Sharath was produced in court on Tuesday, December 31, and remanded to police custody for two days.
Context: The Bengaluru Drug Bust and Channel's Response
The extortion attempt is linked to a recent high-profile drug seizure in the city. A joint operation by the Mumbai Police, Maharashtra's Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF), the Bengaluru City Police, and the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) led to raids across Karnataka. Illegal drugs worth an estimated Rs 1.2 crore were seized in Bengaluru.
In a significant twist, the three police inspectors named by the accused had already been suspended days after the drug bust. Their suspension was related to a failure to gather intelligence, despite being part of the community policing initiative 'Mane Manege Police'.
Meanwhile, BTV Kannada has distanced itself from the accused. In a Facebook post, the channel clarified that Sharath Sharma Kalagaru was not its employee. It urged the public to approach the police if anyone received extortion threats in the channel's name from him and stated that it had filed its own police complaint against Sharath.
The case highlights serious concerns about the misuse of media influence for criminal gain and underscores the ongoing challenges in law enforcement following major narcotics operations.
