Kerala Police sub-Inspector Remains at Large in Spa Extortion Case
A police officer in Kerala is currently evading authorities after being accused of extorting 4 lakh rupees (approximately $4,800 USD) from a colleague, leveraging threats to reveal a personal spa visit.The case, centered around Sub-Inspector (SI) K.K. baiju, has already led to the arrest of two other individuals and raises serious questions about conduct within the Kerala police force.
The incident began on August 8th when the victim, a policeman from Maradu working with the Kochi city AR camp, visited a spa in Kochi for a body massage at 5:30 PM. The following day,Ramya,an employee at the spa from Vaikom,contacted the officer,alleging that a necklace he had removed during the massage was missing. She demanded either the return of the necklace or a payment of 6.5 lakh rupees (approximately $7,800 USD) in cash.
The officer reportedly denied taking the necklace and refused to pay, stating his intention to file a formal complaint. According to the First Facts Report (FIR), the spa operator, P.S. Shiham, then allegedly engaged in repeated threats, attempting to blackmail the officer by promising to disclose his spa visit to his wife and family. It was at this point that SI Baiju allegedly intervened, ultimately collecting 4 lakh rupees from the victim.
authorities believe that Baiju retained 2 lakh rupees of the extorted funds, with the remaining 2 lakh rupees distributed between Shiham and Ramya. The victim subsequently filed a complaint, prompting a swift response from law enforcement.
Ramya was apprehended on Thursday while hiding in Thaikoota, and Shiham was arrested on Saturday from his residence in Kochi Vathuruthi Rameswaram Pulli House. However, SI Baiju remains at large, and a manhunt is currently underway.
“SI Baiju will be arrested soon,” stated City police Commissioner Putta Vimaladitya, adding that “strong departmental action will be taken” against the accused.
The investigation continues, with authorities focused on locating SI Baiju and recovering the remaining extorted funds. This case underscores the potential for abuse of power and the importance of maintaining ethical standards within the police force.
Why did this happen? The extortion plot originated from a false claim by a spa employee, Ramya, alleging a missing necklace. This claim was used as leverage by Ramya and the spa operator, P.S. Shiham, to extort money from the victim. When the victim refused, SI K.K. Baiju allegedly intervened and facilitated the extortion, motivated by personal gain.
Who was involved? The key individuals involved are the victim (a policeman from Maradu), Ramya (spa employee), P.S. Shiham (spa operator), and SI K.K. Baiju (the accused police officer). City Police Commissioner Putta Vimaladitya is overseeing the investigation.
What occurred? A policeman was blackmailed over a personal spa visit with false accusations of theft. The blackmail escalated into extortion, with SI Baiju allegedly collecting 4 lakh rupees. Ramya and Shiham have been arrested, but Baiju remains a fugitive.
How did it end? As of this report,the case remains open. Ramya and Shiham are in custody, but SI Baiju is still at large. Authorities are actively searching for him and aim to recover the remaining extorted funds. The City Police Commissioner has promised strong departmental action against all involved.
