Once the interactions reached a private level, Farkhanda Aziz Khan initiated a blackmail campaign, threatening to leak screenshots and chats while intimidating the victim with the prospect of false criminal cases and imprisonment. Paralyzed by the fear of social infamy, the victim succumbed to the mental pressure and began making payments. Investigative records reveal that between April 2024 and January 2026, the victim was coerced into making 23.61 lakh rupees through 32 separate transactions. The extortion escalated further in January 2026, when the accused intensified their threats to extract an additional 40 lakh rupees, bringing the total amount swindled to over 60 lakh rupees.
The operation functioned as a sophisticated network involving Farkhanda’s brother, Bazil Aziz Khan, and their associate, Uddin Imtiyaz Wani. Police reports indicate that a significant portion of the extorted funds was funneled into Wani’s bank account, with the remainder distributed across various other accounts. This organized structure was unraveled through meticulous technical surveillance and a detailed audit of bank transactions conducted by the Mumbai Police Crime Branch. Following the investigation, Farkhanda and her brother were apprehended at a hotel in New Delhi, while the third accomplice was arrested in Srinagar.
Legal proceedings have been initiated under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Information Technology (IT) Act. Authorities are currently pursuing leads to identify other potential members of this syndicate and any additional victims who may have been targeted by the group. This high-profile arrest serves as a grim reminder of how a minor lapse in caution on social media can lead to devastating consequences. In light of the case, the police have issued a public appeal for citizens to remain vigilant during online interactions with strangers and to immediately report any instances of suspicious activity or blackmail.
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