High court orders crackdown on honeytrap extortion rackets

Prayagraj: The Allahabad high court has directed the Uttar Pradesh Police to act against the gangs allegedly using women to honeytrap men to extort money.Hearing a writ petition filed by the accused, Fojiya, a division bench comprising Justice JJ Munir and Justice Tarun Saxena said that such cases disclose a "very pernicious state of affairs in the society". In an order dated Mar 30, the court refused to entertain a plea seeking the quashing of an extortion case against five people, including some policemen, accused of a honeytrap by a man. The court said the case requires a thorough investigation by the Inspector General of Police, Meerut Zone. It added that the police chiefs in districts must be alerted to remain aware of such gangs operating in their areas."He shall alert the entire district police chiefs in the zone to maintain strict vigil, if a gang of this kind is operating, or other gangs are also operating, blackmailing innocent people by utilizing women for springing a honeytrap, or in some other way, bringing about the same results. If offences like these are permitted to continue, it would become difficult to live in a decent world," the court said.A man in Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh, has lodged a complaint alleging that a woman and her accomplices blackmailed him after they recorded a video of him having sex with her at a hotel. The accused reportedly demanded Rs 8-10 lakh to settle the matter. However, the complainant reported the matter to the police, which led to the registration of an FIR.The accused then approached the high court by filing this writ petition and sought the quashing of the FIR. However, the court termed the case serious and refused to entertain the plea. Then, the counsel for petitioners withdrew the petition."This petition is dismissed as withdrawn, but not without the directions that we have made," the court said.The court directed that the order be communicated to the director general of police (DGP), the inspector general of police (IG) of Meerut zone and the additional chief secretary (home), Govt of Uttar Pradesh.