By Sumesh Rajan | February 7, 2026
Belagavi, Karnataka, INDIA: In a chilling case of digital extortion, police in Karnataka’s Belagavi district have arrested three men for allegedly planting hidden cameras inside the homes of government employees and using the footage to blackmail them for Rs 50 lakh.
According to police, the accused secretly installed miniature cameras inside bulb holders and light fittings in the victims’ residences to record their private moments without consent. They later approached the victims posing as journalists and RTI officials, threatening to make the videos viral on social media and media platforms if their demands were not met.
One of the victims, a woman government officer, lodged a complaint with the Police Commissioner after receiving repeated threatening calls. Acting on the complaint, police formed a special team and conducted raids, leading to the arrest of three suspects.
The accused have been identified as Sameer Nisar Ahmed Sheikh (also known as Samir Nisar), Abdul Rashid Makandar, and Mohammed Balekundri (also referred to as Dilawar), all residents of Karnataka.
Police said the men gained access to the victims’ homes by closely monitoring their routines. “In many cases, the victims used to keep their house keys near the door or above the door frame. The accused exploited this to enter the houses and install hidden cameras,” a senior police officer said.
The cameras were concealed in bedrooms and halls, enabling continuous surveillance. The recorded footage was later used for blackmail.
During the operation, police seized two Samsung Galaxy Ultra phones, one Vivo phone, six other smartphones, six hidden cameras and camera holders, eight 128 GB memory cards, two additional memory cards, a 64 GB pen drive, two OTG devices, and a Toyota Innova Crysta car.
Investigators also revealed that a person working in a government office allegedly assisted the accused by sharing information and facilitating access to the victims’ homes. The individual is currently absconding, and efforts are underway to trace and arrest them.
A case has been registered under Sections 308(2) (extortion), 77 (voyeurism), and 351 (criminal intimidation) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, along with relevant provisions of the Information Technology Act, 2000.
Police believe the accused may have been involved in similar extortion attempts at multiple locations and are probing whether they are part of a larger network. Further investigation is underway to identify additional victims and determine how long the illegal surveillance had been carried out.
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