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Madikeri<\/strong>: A man who travelled to Madikeri to meet a woman he had befriended on Facebook was allegedly assaulted, disrobed and threatened with a ransom demand of Rs. 50 lakh.<\/p>\n The victim, who managed to escape, reportedly ran to the Police station in a semi-naked state and sought protection.<\/p>\n The victim has been identified as H.P. Mahadeva (39), a native of Maddur in Mandya district, presently residing at Chamarajpet in Bengaluru.<\/p>\n Two women \u2014 Rachana and her mother Malathi \u2014 have been arrested, and the Police are on the lookout for other accused.<\/p>\n Exchange of messages<\/strong><\/p>\n According to the Police, Mahadeva had recently befriended a woman identified as Rachana, a resident of Madikeri, on Facebook, following which they began exchanging messages regularly.<\/p>\n Rachana sought Rs. 10,000 from him, citing financial difficulties, which Mahadeva transferred through a digital payment platform. He transferred Rs. 5,000 on 20.11.2025 and another Rs. 5,000 on 28.11.2025.<\/p>\n When Mahadeva later asked her to return the money, Rachana reportedly asked him to come to either Mysuru or Madikeri.<\/p>\n Acting on her request, Mahadeva arrived in Madikeri on Friday night and contacted her. She gave him the address of her house at Mangaladevinagar.<\/p>\n Trap laid<\/strong><\/p>\n After reaching the house, Rachana welcomed him inside and spoke casually for some time, even discussing tourist spots in the town. It is learnt that both consumed liquor.<\/p>\n During this time, Rachana received a phone call and later claimed that a relative had passed away, before leaving the house abruptly.<\/p>\n As Rachana was leaving, her mother and a man identified as Dinesh arrived at the house in an autorickshaw and questioned Mahadeva about the money he had lent her.<\/p>\n Dinesh allegedly sent Rachana and her mother away and later called his associates Sujith and Darshan to the house.<\/p>\n Assault and disrobing<\/strong><\/p>\n The trio allegedly disrobed Mahadeva, burnt his clothes, pointed an airgun at his head, threatened him and assaulted him with clubs and a knife.<\/p>\n They also snatched his mobile phone and threatened to record a video of him in a semi-naked condition and upload it on social media. They are said to have demanded Rs. 50 lakh to let him go.<\/p>\n Traumatised, Mahadeva pleaded with them and requested permission to step outside to answer nature\u2019s call. He was allowed to do so wearing only his underwear.<\/p>\n Sensing an opportunity, Mahadeva fled and was allegedly chased by the trio in an autorickshaw, who attempted to pull him inside the vehicle.<\/p>\n Mahadeva managed to escape, boarded another autorickshaw and went straight to the Madikeri Town Police Station, where he sought protection.<\/p>\n Police rushed to the house where Mahadeva was allegedly confined, but the suspects had fled by then.<\/p>\n During the investigation, Police collected CCTV footage from the surrounding areas and reportedly found visuals showing the suspects attempting to drag Mahadeva into an auto.<\/p>\n Based on Mahadeva\u2019s complaint, the Police have arrested Rachana and her mother, Malathi, from their house at Ashokapura on Siddapura Road. A search has been launched for Dinesh, Sujith and Darshan. Police have seized the clubs and the knife used in the crime.<\/p>\n Honey-trap suspected<\/strong><\/p>\n Police suspect the incident to be a case of honey-trapping and that Rachana was the mastermind. Further investigation is underway.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n