Kerala TV actress, Nithya Sasi, and her friend, identified as Binu, have been arrested for blackmailing a 75-year-old man with his nude photo and extorting Rs 11 lakh from him. They were arrested in Paravur, Kollam.

Sasi, who is also a lawyer, came into contact with the 75-year-old retired Army man on May 24 via phone call on the pretext of renting his house. The police said Sasi befriended the victim through continuous phone calls and started visiting him often.

“Later, during one of the visits, she threatened him to remove his clothes. Her friend Binu reached the spot as planned and clicked their intimate photos on his phone,” the police said.

The duo threatened the man to circulate the pictures and demanded Rs 25 lakh. He paid Rs 11 lakh. However, the actress and her friend continued to blackmail him and demand more money.

The man lodged a complaint with the Paravur Police on July 18, following which they were arrested.

The accused were produced in court and were remanded to judicial custody.