Balasore, Jan 21: Police have arrested a youth on charges of digital arrest and sexual exploitation fraud in Balasore district. The accused has been identified as Chandan Kumar Jena of Rautara village. He allegedly posed as a Crime Branch police officer and extorted money from a woman by threatening to make her nude photographs viral.

According to police sources, the accused first contacted the victim on December 31, 2025, through a WhatsApp number, claiming that her nude photographs were being circulated on porn websites and social media platforms. He further alleged that a case had been registered against her at the Crime Branch and warned of immediate arrest if she failed to pay a so-called “settlement fee.”

Fearing arrest and public humiliation, the victim transferred ₹70,000 to the accused’s bank account. The accused later allegedly forced her to make nude video calls and attempted to extort an additional ₹2 lakh by continuing to blackmail her.

The victim subsequently lodged a complaint at the Cyber Police Station on the 7th, following which police initiated an investigation and arrested the accused. Further investigation into the case is underway.