Police in Jaipur have uncovered a sophisticated honey trap operation where a spy camera concealed inside a wall clock was used to record compromising videos of victims for blackmail. The Kotwali police station disclosed these details on Thursday, linking the device to cases involving a lawyer and businessmen from Barmer.
The Modus Operandi: A Clock with a Hidden Eye
According to the investigation, the key piece of evidence was a wall clock placed strategically directly opposite the bed in a rented flat used by the main accused, a woman named Priyanka. This clock contained a hidden spy camera, which was allegedly used to secretly record videos as part of a conspiracy to honey trap and extort money from the victims.
The scheme came to light further when another businessman approached the police on Wednesday. He filed a complaint stating that Priyanka had demanded a staggering Rs 30 lakh from him. She threatened to release obscene videos and falsely implicate him in a rape case if he did not pay. His complaint specifically mentions that the illicit videos were created using a camera installed in a wall clock.
Arrests, Bail, and an Absconding Accused
Kotwali Circle Inspector Manoj Kumar identified the accused as Priyanka, a resident of West Bengal. Police teams are currently searching for her location. Inspector Kumar revealed that Priyanka has a history, having been caught earlier in a similar honey trap case. This has led investigators to suspect that an entire gang might be involved in these crimes.
The timeline of events shows a pattern. Police had initially arrested Priyanka and her associate Kamal Singh on January 3. This arrest was based on a complaint filed by a lawyer who was also a victim. The duo was produced in court, taken on police remand, and then produced again on Monday after the remand period ended. It was at this hearing that both were granted bail. Priyanka has been absconding since securing her release on Monday.
Multiple Victims and Escalating Demands
The lawyer's case, which led to the first arrest, followed a similar terrifying pattern. The accused allegedly contacted him, lured him to a flat, and recorded an obscene video. They then used this footage to blackmail him, demanding Rs 40 lakh and threatening to share the video and file a rape case against him.
The most recent complaint from the businessman adds another layer to this complex case. He alleged that on December 24, Priyanka contacted him by phone pretending to be interested in renting his building. She called him to her flat, where she made him drink an intoxicating substance. While he was unconscious, she recorded obscene videos and later began blackmailing him by sending those recordings.
The Jaipur police are treating these incidents with utmost seriousness, piecing together evidence from multiple complaints to dismantle what appears to be an organized blackmail racket operating under the guise of honey traps.
