Police officer's suicide linked to alleged honeytrap blackmail, three arrested in Uttar Pradesh
A 56-year-old police station officer in Basti was found dead by suicide after police say he was targeted in a honey-trap scheme demanding Rs 1 crore, prompting the arrest of a woman, her father and a lawyer.
Walterganj police station officer Suryaprakash Singh, 56, was found dead by hanging at his official quarters near the district collectorate on August 29, shortly after posting a reflective WhatsApp status. Police allege he fell victim to a honey-trap run by 32-year-old Priyanka Chaudhary, who reportedly used recorded conversations to extort wealthy men and demanded Rs 1 crore from Singh. Her father Ramnayan Chaudhary and lawyer Vijay Prakash are accused of facilitating the collection of the funds, with investigators recovering a Bolero vehicle and three mobile phones.
DIG Sanjeev Tyagi said the arrests followed analysis of call detail records linking the trio to Singh. Singh, originally from Azamgarh and nearing retirement, is survived by his wife, son Sandeep and two daughters; his son has called for strict punishment of those involved. The investigation continues to determine whether other victims were targeted by the alleged extortion network.
Why it matters
The case highlights potential abuse of power and blackmail risks involving law-enforcement officials.
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