Date:20/07/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/07/20/stories/2004072007760300.htm

New Delhi

Man held for assault, blackmail

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI JULY 19. A music artist who along with his friends had allegedly been criminally assaulting a 20-year-old "bhajan" singer since November last year after taking her photographs in a compromising position has been arrested by the Crime Branch.

A hunt has been launched for the other accused. According to the police, they received a complaint from the father of the victim alleging that Sant Ram, a singer who also manufactured compact discs of "bhajans" took her photographs and then started blackmailing her by threatening to make those photographs public.

The victim, who used to participate in "bhajan" singing as a chorus artist, alleged that she came in contact with Sant Ram in November last. One fine day, Sant Ram called her to Max Studio at Daryaganj for shooting. When she reached there, he took her to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi medical staff quarters near Raj Ghat where he and his accomplice, Jawahar Singh, an MCD Pharmacist, offered her some eatables laced with sedatives.While she was unconscious, the victim alleged that the duo criminally assaulted her and took her photographs in compromising positions following which they started blackmailing her.

They would allegedly force her to sleep with their friends as well. However this March, the victim refused to please them further as her board examinations were near upon which they started threatening her again.

Somehow, her father came to know about it and tried to set things right failing which he lodged the complaint.

The police said they have launched a hunt for Jawahar and other accused.