Realtor held for harassing woman

Vijayawada: The Ajit Singh Nagar police in the city on Wednesday arrested a real estate agent for allegedly blackmailing a woman, a divorcee, with a threat to upload her nude photographs on the internet.
According to sources, the accused - Mandali Ravikanth (50) - a resident of Ajit Sigh Nagar, befriended the 40-year-old woman, also of the same locality, and was in relationship with her for many years now.Lately, he has been demanding money from her for handing over nude photos of her taken by him on various occasions.
The realtor maintained an illicit relationship with the victim and was in a live-in relationship with her mother, a teacher. The victim has a son pursuing a B.Tech course and a daughter studying in Intermediate.
Ravikanth, who allegedly took nude photographs of the woman with his cellphone, started blackmailing her by threatening to upload the photos on the internet if she failed to give money to him.
Unable to bear continuous harassment by Ravikanth, the woman approached the Ajith Singh Nagar police and lodged a complaint against him. She stated in her complaint that Ravikanth had been blackmailing her for the last six months. She also mentioned that Ravikanth had not only demanded money but also sexually assaulted her, Ajith Singh Nagar police said.
"The complainant and the accused knew each other for over six years since the time the latter started visiting the former's house to meet her mother at their house in Ajit Singh Nagar. We arrested Ravikanth at his house after the woman lodged a complaint," said Ajit Singh Nagar CI B M Krishna.
A case has been registered against Ravikanth under sections 384, 324 and 376 of IPC and SC/ST Atrocities (Prevention) Act.
Police also seized two smartphones and a tablet from the accused and sent them to forensic laboratory.