The Central Crime Branch (CCB) of the Bengaluru police on Thursday arrested a woman rowdy sheeter under the Karnataka Control of Organised Crimes Act, 2000 (KCOCA) in connection with the alleged kidnapping and extortion of a realtor last year.
The arrested accused has been identified as Yashaswini alias Yashaswini Gowda, 47, a rowdy sheeter in the Basavanagudi Police Station limits. Police said she has eight to ten criminal cases registered against her across various police stations in Bengaluru city.
The present case pertains to the kidnapping of Manoj Kumar H.V., 25, a real estate businessman, near Modi Hospital Road, under the limits of Mahalakshmi Layout Police Station in 2025. A case was registered, following which the CCB took over the probe.
Police said Manoj was acquainted with Rajesh alias Pappi and others, who had earlier taken ₹1.20 lakh from him as a hand loan, promising to return it within a month. When Manoj demanded repayment, the accused allegedly began threatening him.
On August 26, 2025, the accused allegedly called Manoj and asked him to come to Modi Hospital Road, claiming they would return the money. When he arrived, Manoj was allegedly forced into a car and kidnapped by Ramesh and four of his associates.
The victim was allegedly driven around the city, assaulted and forced to transfer money amounting to lakhs to the account of one of the accused. On August 27, 2025, the accused dropped Manoj near the Jnanabharathi campus, telling him to arrange for the transfer of more money.
During the course of the investigation, police said they established that Yashaswini had organised the gang and played a key role in the kidnapping and extortion, following which she was booked under KCOCA.
Published – February 06, 2026 12:22 am IST
