A woman was kidnapped, stripped naked and assaulted by three people, including two women, in Bengaluru over the non-payment of loan interest, police said. The accused recorded a video of the woman in a naked state and threatened to make it public if she failed to repay the money.
The incident came to light after the victim’s mother approached Chandra Layout Police Station and filed a missing-person complaint. Acting on the complaint, police traced the woman and rescued her.
Three people — Reshma Banu, Nazath and Reshma’s husband Suhail — were subsequently arrested in connection with the case.
According to police, the victim had borrowed Rs 1 lakh from Reshma Banu around two years ago. She later borrowed another Rs 50,000 from Nazath through Reshma.
Police said the woman faced financial difficulties and had stopped paying interest for around six months. She had also reportedly failed to make loan instalments for two months. Following this, she blocked Reshma’s phone number and moved to her mother’s house.
Investigators said Nazrath contacted the woman and called to her house on the pretext of offering her work. When she reached the location, Reshma and her husband Suhail arrived and assaulted her.
The accused attacked the woman with a knife before forcing her into an autorickshaw. She was then taken to a house near Kumbalgodu, where she was confined and assaulted.
Police said the accused also stripped the woman and recorded a video of her. They reportedly threatened to circulate the video if she did not repay the money.
Following the missing-person complaint, police launched an investigation and traced the woman to the location where she was allegedly being held. She was rescued and the three accused were arrested.
A case has been registered at Chandra Layout Police Station under relevant sections of law. Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the alleged kidnapping, assault and threats, and are also examining the role of the accused in the incident.
