Allahabad High Court Flags Organised Honey-Trap Extortion, Orders Statewide Police Vigilance

The Allahabad High Court recently dismissed as withdrawn a criminal writ petition in a case involving allegations of a honey-trap and blackmail racket, while directing a high-level police probe into what it described as "a very pernicious state of affairs in society".

"This is a very serious matter...We are of opinion, on our own motion, that it requires thorough investigation...If offences like these are permitted to continue, it would become difficult to live in a decent world," said the bench of Justice J.J. Munir and Justice Tarun Saxena.

The case before the court disclosed allegations of an organised scheme in which the first petitioner allegedly lured the informant through WhatsApp conversations, engaged him in a relationship, and later called him to Bijnor. There, she is said to have taken him to a hotel and established physical relations, during which she secretly recorded video clips of the encounter.

According to the material placed before the court, the video recordings were subsequently used to blackmail the informant. The involvement of other accused persons was also alleged, including a ward member and two policemen, who were said to be acting in connivance with the woman.

Court noted that the video clips were passed on to another accused, who allegedly summoned the informant and confronted him with the recordings in the presence of the policemen. The informant was then threatened and coerced into paying a sum of ₹10 lakh, which was later stated to be negotiable down to ₹8 lakh.

Faced with what was described as a mix of fear, anxiety, and shame, the informant did not succumb to the demand and instead approached the police to report the incident.

Taking note of these allegations, the high court observed that the case revealed a “very pernicious state of affairs in society,” indicating that such methods of exploitation and extortion posed a serious threat to public order and morality.

Despite permitting the withdrawal of the petition, court proceeded to issue directions on its own motion, underscoring the gravity of the issue. It directed the Inspector General of Police, Meerut Zone, to undertake a thorough investigation into the matter.

Court further instructed the IG to alert all district police chiefs within the zone to maintain strict vigilance and identify whether such organised gangs are operating. It emphasised the need to curb activities involving the use of women to entrap individuals and extort money through threats of exposure.

In addition, the Registrar (Compliance) was directed to communicate the order to key state authorities, including the Director General of Police, Uttar Pradesh, the Inspector General of Police, Meerut Zone, and the Additional Chief Secretary (Home), through the Chief Judicial Magistrates of Lucknow and Meerut.

Case Title: Fojiya and others vs. State of U.P. and others

Order Date: March 30, 2026

Bench: Justice J.J. Munir and Justice Tarun Saxena