26/04/2026
Sadhana Shetty was a rising social media influencer, building a strong following and online image. During this time, she came in contact with Karthik Putha, a businessman who owned a makeup clinic in Bangalore. He approached her for promotion, and what started as a professional connection slowly turned personal.
Over time, they grew close and became intimate. But things took a sharp turn when Sadhana allegedly recorded their private moments without his knowledge.
Later, she began using those recordings as leverage. She demanded money and threatened to send the videos and photos to his wife if he didn’t comply. Under pressure and fear, Karthik gave her ₹10 lakh, along with expensive gifts including a gold ring, chain, and an iPhone. Despite this, her demands escalated to ₹1.5 crore.
When he refused to pay further, she allegedly sent the private content to his wife and continued threatening him with false legal cases. Left with no option, Karthik filed an FIR at Jayanagar Police Station. The police have now started investigating, while Sadhana has deactivated her Instagram account.
So what is this really, betrayal, greed or consequences catching up? Who is more at fault here, the one who blackmailed or the one who took the risk? If you were in his place, what would you have done?