Bengaluru police have arrested two men, Mahesh and Swamy Vishwanath, for allegedly extorting gold and cash from a woman they befriended on social media. The victim, residing in the K R Puram area, had known Mahesh for about one-and-a-half years. Initially a friendship, it turned coercive as the accused pressured her to provide gold and cash, claiming financial difficulties. When she requested the return of her jewellery, they refused and continued to exert pressure. The police discovered that the men had documented the woman's private moments and threatened to release the material to extort more valuables. Following a tip-off, Mahesh was arrested on March 3 in Kondur village, Nizamabad, Telangana, and he confessed to the crime, implicating Vishwanath. The latter was apprehended on March 19 in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh. Investigations revealed that the stolen gold, valued at ₹85.65 lakh (approximately $103,000 USD), was pledged at two banks and a jewellery shop in Hyderabad, where it was subsequently recovered between March 20 and March 23. The accused allegedly used the extorted money for online gambling and personal expenses. Both men are now in judicial custody as further investigations continue.