Mysuru: Close on the heels of Nanjangud Police busting an eight-member honey-trapping gang including a woman (three of the gang members including the woman are still absconding) last week, the Mysuru South Rural Police have arrested a woman on charges of honey-trapping in city.

The arrest was made on Sunday (Aug. 27) morning and the Police have seized a Hyundai i10 car, Rs. 5,000 cash and a mobile phone from her. The woman has been identified as 26-year-old Mala, a resident of Ashokapuram. The Police arrested her near People’s Park, close to Suburban Bus Stand while she was waiting for her accomplices.

According to Police, Mala was fluent in Kannada, Hindi, English, Tamil, Telugu among other languages and this came in handy for honey-trapping. She had so far trapped eight people out of which only one person had lodged a complaint while the rest did not, fearing exposure and embarrassment, the Police added.  

About a week ago, Mala met the complainant (name withheld) at a super market in Bannimantap and after flashing a smile, she collected his phone number after introducing herself. She then began to text him and also used to call him over and speak in a friendly manner, Police said.

She later called her potential target to come to Mahadevapura Road to pick her up and take her to Simsha. Accordingly, the complainant reached Mahadevapura Road in his Maruti Omni van and was talking with her when her accomplices surrounded them and began questioning him. They also assaulted the hapless man.

The gang also took the cheque book which was in the van and got a cheque leaf signed by him before letting him go. The victim later lodged a complaint at Mysuru South Rural Police.

Inspector Jayaprakash and staff, who registered a case began their investigations and based on call records and the location of phone, arrested Mala near Sub Urban Bus Stand. Police said that Mala had about 7-8 accomplices out of which four of them are already in jail in an extortion case and added that they have launched a manhunt to nab the remaining accomplices.

Mala was produced before a Magistrate on Sunday, who remanded her to Judicial custody.