Bengaluru: The Central Crime Branch (CCB) police have arrested a young woman for allegedly blackmailing the head of a prominent mutt in the State and extorting lakhs of rupees from him.

The accused has been identified as Spoorthi (25), a native of Chikkamagaluru. Police said she had allegedly extorted ₹4.5 lakh from the seer and was demanding an additional ₹1 crore.

According to police, the seer himself lodged a complaint, following which a case was registered and the accused was arrested. Spoorthi, who was working in a private company in Bengaluru, had contacted the seer around four to five months ago, introducing herself as a former student from Tiptur.

She later began demanding money and allegedly threatened to defame the seer and issue life threats if her demands were not met. Fearing reputational damage, the seer reportedly paid ₹4.5 lakh to her when he visited Bengaluru.

However, the accused, along with her associates, allegedly continued to threaten the seer and demanded ₹1 crore, prompting him to approach the CCB. Acting on the complaint, CCB police arrested Spoorthi and produced her before a court, which remanded her to judicial custody.

Further investigation is under way to identify her accomplices.