Honeytrap Horror: Allahabad HC Slams Police-Linked Blackmail Gang, Orders Crackdown

In a scathing rebuke to a chilling case of sex, deceit, and extortion, the Allahabad High Court dismissed a petition by five accused—including two policemen—to quash an FIR, while issuing sweeping directives for Uttar Pradesh Police to hunt down honeytrap rackets. The Division Bench of Justice J.J. Munir and Justice Tarun Saxena labeled the incident a " very pernicious state of affairs in society ," refusing to let it fade quietly after the petitioners withdrew their plea.

The Lethal Lure: How the Trap Snapped Shut

The drama unfolded in Bijnor when the complainant, lured by sweet talk on WhatsApp from the lead accused (petitioner no. 1, a woman), met her at a hotel for consensual relations. Unbeknownst to him, she secretly recorded video clips during the encounter. These were weaponized by her alleged accomplices: petitioner no. 3, Shahbej alias Shanu (a ward member), and petitioners nos. 4 and 5, policemen Lalu Yadav and Punit Tyagi .

The gang summoned the victim, flaunted the footage, and demanded Rs 10 lakhs—bargaining down to Rs 8 lakhs at a spot called Motichoor. Tormented by fear, shame, and anxiety, the man didn't pay up. Instead, he reported the blackmail to police, leading to an FIR against Fojiya and others v. State of UP and others (Criminal Misc. Writ Petition No. 4089 of 2026). The accused then approached the High Court seeking quashing under its inherent powers.

News reports echoed the FIR details: the woman honeytrapped the man, captured compromising videos post-sex, and the group extorted money to suppress them—a classic playbook in rising Uttar Pradesh honeytrap cases.

Withdrawal Amid Warnings: Petitioners Backtrack

After prolonged arguments on March 30, 2026, counsel Shashank Dwivedi for the petitioners sought withdrawal, backed by the informant's lawyer. The state was represented by Additional Government Advocate Shashi Shekhar Tiwari . No detailed arguments are recorded post-withdrawal, but the court had already heard enough to act suo motu .

The petitioners likely argued the FIR lacked merit for quashing, but the bench wasn't buying it. Reports note the court "refused to entertain the plea," viewing the allegations as too grave—especially with uniformed officers involved.

Court's Razor-Sharp Reasoning: No Escape for 'Pernicious' Crimes

No precedents were cited, but the judges dissected the facts with moral outrage. They outlined the sequence: WhatsApp seduction, hotel honeytrap, video blackmail, police-ward member shakedown. " The first petitioner here reached the third respondent over his WhatsApp and honey-trapped him, doing sweet talk... captured some video clips... resorted to blackmail ," the order states.

The bench stressed police complicity's danger: " The other petitioners, who are said to be in connivance... all men, are policemen ." Dismissing leniency pleas implicitly, they invoked public interest, warning such gangs erode societal fabric.

Key Observations from the Bench

  • " This is a matter which discloses a very pernicious state of affairs in society. "
  • " If offences like these are permitted to continue, it would become difficult to live in a decent world. "
  • " He [IG, Meerut Zone] shall alert the entire district police chiefs in the zone to maintain strict vigil, if a gang of this kind is operating, or other gangs are also operating, blackmailing innocent people by utilising women for springing a honey trap. "

Dismissed—But Directives That Pack a Punch

"This petition is dismissed as withdrawn, but not without the directions that we have made above." The court mandated a " thorough investigation " by the Inspector General of Police, Meerut Zone, with alerts to all district SPs for vigilance against honeytrap operations.

Copies of the order were forwarded to the Director General of Police, U.P. , IG Meerut , and Additional Chief Secretary (Home), UP , via Chief Judicial Magistrates. This isn't just a case dismissal—it's a statewide alert against extortion rackets, potentially spurring probes into similar gangs and deterring police-linked crimes. For victims, it's validation; for society, a bulwark against blackmail's shadow.

As media headlines blare— "Sex, Blackmail & Extortion: Allahabad High Court Directs Police to Act" —this ruling signals zero tolerance for honeytraps preying on vulnerability.