A 27-year-old doctor from Asthampatti near Salem has been arrested for the murder of a woman who was allegedly blackmailing him using his nude photos, police said on June 7. The chilling crime has thrown open a web of online exploitation, deception, and fatal retaliation.
The victim, 26-year-old Nithya from Sattuma Nagar in Thiruvottiyur, was found dead in her rented home in Kodungaiyur on June 5 evening by her live-in partner, Balamurugan. Initially treated as a case of suicide due to the absence of external injuries, the case took a sharp turn following a deeper probe.
Police say Nithya, who falsely claimed to be an IT professional, had a history of extorting money from multiple individuals. She reportedly befriended Dr. Santosh Kumar online and began blackmailing him, demanding over ₹8 lakh by threatening to send explicit photos to his family.
Driven by fear and repeated harassment, Santosh allegedly decided to eliminate her. On the day of the murder, Nithya had summoned Santosh to her residence.
There, he spiked her alcohol with sedatives and, once she was unconscious, smothered her with a pillow, police said. He fled the scene with 25 sovereigns of gold jewellery.
Balamurugan returned home that evening to find Nithya unconscious. Paramedics later declared her dead. But it was Nithya’s phone data and CCTV footage that ultimately led police to the doctor. Confronted with the evidence, Santosh reportedly confessed to the crime.
A bag containing the stolen jewellery was later recovered from the home of Santosh’s neighbour, Mujpur Pasha, who told police he was unaware of its contents. He has been released after questioning.
Meanwhile, Nithya’s family, unaware of her activities, had initially suspected Balamurugan and reported missing valuables. Police are now investigating whether others were similarly blackmailed by Nithya, and whether a broader network is involved.
