Crime show anchor held for blackmail

Eluru: The police arrested TV crime show anchor-cum -junior artiste Harshvardhan on Sunday on the charge of attempt to blackmail a Dental College Correspondent. Four alleged accomplices of Harshvardhan were also arrested.

The police said Harshvardhan had threatened to expose the “anti-social activities” being carried out in the college, if the college management failed to pay Rs 10 crore. He claimed to have possessed the video footage of the activities being carried out in the college and he would ensure that the footage was aired, unless he was paid ransom. He had made hard bargain with the college management and finally demanded at least Rs 5 crore, the police said. He threatened the college correspondent that the latter would lose his job and also his reputation, if the video footage which was in possession was aired.

The correspondent, identified as Fr Bala, approached the West Godavari Superintendent of Police with a complaint.

The police arrested Harshavardhan from a lodging house in Vijayawada. On the information given by him, the police arrested four of his accomplices, too. Two cars, five mobile phones and Rs 3000 cash were seized from the arrested.