Kerala businessman honeytrapped in Mangaluru: Blackmailed with private video, FIR filed but no arrests yet

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Oct 17, 2025: A businessman of Kerala origin, currently based in a Gulf country, has filed a complaint stating that he was trapped in a honeytrap scheme under the pretense of being shown a girl for marriage. Despite filing an FIR, even after a week, the Vitla police have reportedly not arrested the accused.

According to the complaint, the main accused are Kadambu Basheer and Mani Sepia, who allegedly run a honeytrap racket and have multiple cases filed against them. Advocate Souda, representing the victim, said the police are making excuses, claiming only that they have issued notices to the accused.

In a press conference held in Mangalore along with the victim, Muhammed Ashraf Tavarakadan from Malappuram, Advocate Souda shared the details:

Ashraf was brought to City Center Mall in Mangalore by Basheer and Mani Sepia to meet a potential bride.

He refused the match after realizing the girl was not from Kerala, as he had specifically requested.

Later, Basheer invited him to his house near Vitla, where another girl was introduced and a video was secretly recorded with her sitting next to Ashraf.

When Ashraf declined to proceed with the marriage, they threatened him with the private video, demanding money.

Initially, Ashraf paid ₹5 lakhs, but they allegedly assaulted him and demanded ₹1 crore more. Financial records show that Ashraf transferred ₹5 lakhs and ₹9 lakhs to the bank accounts of Mani Sepia, her husband Sarafuddin, and Basheer Kadambu.

Despite clear evidence, the police have not arrested the accused and are accused of dragging their feet.

Ashraf is now facing threats to withdraw the case, including one from a person named Mustafa who warned, "Withdraw the case or face consequences." Advocate Souda claimed that even religious leaders affiliated with political parties are putting pressure on Ashraf.

A life threat complaint has been filed at the Bantwal police station based on the suggestion of Vitla police.

Seven people, including Basheer’s mother, have been named in the FIR. Advocate Souda vowed that the accused would be arrested no matter what and emphasized the seriousness of the case, stating that the accused have extorted ₹40 lakhs from an innocent man.

She also referred to the death of Multaj Ali, a prominent person who was allegedly caught in a similar honeytrap scheme two years ago. "We cannot allow another Multaj Ali to happen in this district," she said.

She further revealed that just four days ago, a young man in Karkala died by suicide after being trapped in a similar scam. Police have failed to arrest the accused in that case too. Souda offered free legal help to that victim’s family.

Muhammed Ashraf, who does not speak Kannada, is married with three children. His wife has been ill for 15 years. With his family’s consent, he had been looking for a second marriage and had specifically asked the broker Sepia for a girl from Kerala. Instead, he was tricked and blackmailed by the Sepia-Basheer gang, he claims.