Russian or Uzbek? Fresh twist emerges in BHEL officer honey trap case

A major development has emerged in the high-profile honey trap case involving a senior officer from Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. Initially, the woman at the center of the controversy was believed to be Russian, but a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has revealed that she is, in fact, a citizen of Uzbekistan. The woman allegedly met the BHEL officer in a hotel, where she filmed explicit videos of him, which were later used for blackmail.

The mastermind behind the operation has been identified as Shashank Verma, a close associate of the officer, who is now under police custody. Verma orchestrated the entire plot, using the woman's nationality as a cover to lure the officer into the trap.

Sex Trafficking and Larger Racket Uncovered

Reports suggest that a female agent was responsible for bringing the Uzbek woman to Bhopal, falsely claiming she was Russian. This agent, still at large, is known to house women from various states in her flat, coordinating operations for a sex racket that charged clients between ₹5,000 and ₹25,000. The SIT investigation further revealed that the Uzbek woman’s passport records have been requested for deeper verification.

Shashank Verma's Role Exposed

A search of Verma’s mobile phone led to the discovery of contacts related to agents and clients, confirming his involvement in sex trafficking. Apart from his illegal activities, Verma also had business dealings within BHEL, managing scrap contracts, which gave him access to high-level officers. He convinced the senior officer to meet the Uzbek woman in a hotel, misleading him by presenting her as Russian. During their encounter, the officer’s private moments were recorded and used as leverage for blackmail.

₹25 Lakh Extortion and Legal Action

Verma initially demanded ₹25 lakh from the officer, but after negotiations, he extracted ₹2.5 lakh in installments. Unable to cope with the continued blackmail, the officer finally approached the police and filed an official complaint. The officer also reported receiving threatening calls from someone impersonating a crime branch officer, adding to his distress.

The Govindpura police have registered a case against two men and two women under sections 308/06, 142, 351/4, and 3/5 of the Indian Penal Code. Shashank Verma, the prime accused, has been arrested and is reportedly revealing further details during interrogation.