Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Aug 2: A 27-year-old woman from Udupi has filed a complaint at the Mangaluru women's police station alleging that a bike rider, whom she befriended on Instagram, forced her into a relationship, threatened suicide, and raped her in a lodge. The complaint further alleges that the accused extorted money and an iPhone from her, and blackmailed her by threatening to publish her private photos and videos in newspapers.
Based on the complaint, the police have registered a case against the accused, identified as Karthik Karkera, a bike rider from Marakada, Bajpe, under sections 64, 78, 351(2), and 352 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and have arrested him.
According to the complaint, the woman was working in Oman in February 2026 when she became acquainted with Karthik Karkera through Instagram. Within a few days of their acquaintance, he began constantly pressuring her to love him. When he demanded that she send semi-nude photos, she stopped communicating with him.
Following this, Karthik allegedly sent her a photo claiming he had consumed poison and was admitted to a hospital. He also created fear by stating that he consumed marijuana, leaving the woman with no choice but to inevitably stay in touch with him.
After she returned to Mangaluru from Oman, Karthik repeatedly pressured her to meet. They eventually met at a restaurant in the city on May 10. The complaint states that he forced her to stay with him that night, threatening to die by suicide if she did not reciprocate his feelings.
On the same night, police intercepted Karthik's bike near Bharat Mahal due to its excessive noise. When he failed to stop as instructed, the police took him to the station and penalized him. By the time he paid the fine and they left the station, it was around 1 am, and he forced the woman to stay at a lodge.
The woman alleged that Karthik took advantage of the fact that they had consumed alcohol and raped her against her will while she was asleep.
Though she distanced herself from Karthik after the incident, he continuously blackmailed her and demanded money. When he threatened to cause trouble if she did not buy him a mobile phone, she purchased an iPhone for him on May 12, the complaint stated.
Despite this, he continued to force her to stay with him. Meanwhile, the woman's marriage was fixed with someone else. When she informed Karthik about her upcoming wedding, he allegedly hurled foul language at her fiancé and sent him abusive messages. The complaint also mentions that Karthik abused and threatened her during a conference call.
Later, the woman took back the iPhone she had given to Karthik but did not provide him with the password. When she called him regarding the password, Karthik's cousin, Suchitra, answered the call and allegedly abused and threatened both the woman and her fiancé using foul language.
Furthermore, Karthik sent two to three private videos and photos via WhatsApp and threatened her, stating, "I will see how you get married. I will separate both of you. I will ensure these photos are published in the newspaper."
In her complaint, the young woman stated that Karthik is currently stalking and continuously harassing her, posing a threat to her life and the life of her fiancé.
The Mangaluru women's police are conducting further investigations into the matter.