Bengaluru : The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Kannada news channel Janashri was arrested here on extortion charges, police said on Saturday.
“The television channel’s CEO Lakshmiprasad Vajpai, 42, was arrested on Friday night after he was caught accepting the ransom money from a businessman whom he had blackmailed to expose him,” Koramanagala Police Inspector R.M. Ajay said.
Police also arrested Mith-un, an employee of the channel, along with Vajpai after raiding their office on a complaint from the businessman.
“Vajpai had allegedly threatened the businessman of telecasting a derogatory video footage on him and his company if he did not pay up Rs 10 crore,” said Ajay.
The news channel had already telecast a part of the video to force the businessman to pay up the ransom.
A FIR was registered on Saturday against the accused under Sections 384 (extortion), 385 (putting a person in fear of injury) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). — PTI
