Times News NetworkLudhiana: A factory worker’s friend reportedly copied private photos from his mobile phone secretly to execute a ₹10-lakh international blackmail scheme against the man and his overseas girlfriend.The digital trap turned local after the targeted man recognised his former colleague’s voice in an international blackmail call. The prime accused and a teenaged alleged accomplice face serious charges.The prime accused, Irfan Hussain, 21, is a former colleague and friend of the complainant, 30-year-old Lakhwinder Singh of Gautam Colony in the Tibba area. Police said Hussain had made the secret download while borrowing Lakhwinder]s mobile phone.Lakhwinder received a WhatsApp message from an international number on June 15. The sender demanded ₹5 lakh to prevent the photographs from being leaked. The extortionists, later, made a separate Rs 5 lakh demand to Lakhwinder’s girlfriend, who lives in Canada.Assistant sub-Inspector Avtar Singh, the investigating officer, said: “The breakthrough came after Lakhwinder noticed a familiar voice on phone calls and voice notes sent by two different individuals. He recorded the conversations and played them for colleagues at his factory, who identified the voice as Hussain’s.Following a police investigation, Hussain was arrested and he confessed to the crime. His 17-year-old accomplice was detained subsequently.Both suspects have been charged with cheating, extortion, and criminal intimidation under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
