Coastal Talk News | Udupi
Udupi Town police have arrested two people for allegedly threatening a man and extorting ₹42.97 lakh from him following a marriage proposal. The arrested persons are Nagarathna H. (42) and Hemanth (41). Two other accused are yet to be traced, and the police investigation is underway. The case was registered based on a complaint filed by Pradeep K., an employee of Nirmaan Multipurpose Souharda Cooperative Society in Udupi.
According to the complaint, Pradeep was looking for a bride. He came into contact with Nagarathna through the ‘Kannada Jodi’ matrimonial app in late 2023 or January 2024. Nagarathna reportedly told Pradeep that she was working as a Kannada language teacher in Basaveshwaranagar, Bengaluru. Pradeep declined her marriage proposal, but she allegedly continued to contact him through phone calls and messages.
The complaint alleges that between January 2024 and January 2026, Pradeep was threatened and forced to transfer a total of ₹42,97,350 in instalments to the bank accounts of Nagarathna and three others. She allegedly threatened to file false cases against him, visit his workplace and damage his reputation, and harm herself if he refused to pay or demanded the money back. Following the registration of the case, police arrested Nagarathna and Hemanth on October 26 at Kempegowda Bus Stand and in Basaveshwaranagar, Bengaluru. Both were produced before a court. The court remanded them to judicial custody.
