Mumbai, January 7: The Parksite police in Mumbai's Ghatkopar have registered an FIR against a woman for allegedly extorting and blackmailing a 58-year-old local hotelier. The woman, identified as Poonam Shetty, is accused of demanding an INR 2 crore settlement or a lifetime monthly payment of INR 1 lakh by threatening to implicate the businessman in a false rape case and defame him socially.

The case highlights a complex three-year history between the two, which the complainant describes as a consensual relationship that turned into a campaign of financial exploitation. Mumbai Shocker: Couple Discovers Hidden Spy Camera in Malad Hotel Room; FIR Registered Against Management.

Origins of the Relationship Between the Complainant and the Accused

According to the police statement, the complainant, who owns and operates three hotels in Mumbai, first met Shetty in 2022 at one of his restaurants. She reportedly introduced herself as a divorcee, and the two subsequently developed a close personal relationship. The hotelier alleged that over the course of their involvement, Shetty frequently sought financial assistance under various pretexts. He claimed to have transferred significant sums of money to her via cash and online bank transfers to maintain the relationship and support her purported needs.

Escalating Financial Demands from Accused

The legal complaint details a series of large payments made under alleged duress. In late 2023, the hotelier reportedly paid Shetty INR 10 lakh after she claimed to be pregnant. More recently, between September and December 2024, he allegedly paid her an additional INR 22 lakh. The situation reached a breaking point when Shetty reportedly visited the hotelier’s residence to inform his family members of her pregnancy and repeat her monetary demands. Following this, she allegedly escalated her ultimatum: a one-time "settlement" of INR 2 crore or an INR 1 lakh monthly stipend for life to prevent her from filing criminal charges against him. Mumbai Shocker: 51-Year-Old Woman Held at Gunpoint, Stripped; Police Register Case Against Senior Pharma Officials.

Cross Complaints Filed by Complainant and the Accused

Fearing social defamation and legal repercussions, the hotelier lodged written complaints at the Parksite and Ghatkopar police stations in December 2025. In a retaliatory move, Shetty filed a rape case against the hotelier at the Ghatkopar Police Station. However, investigators noted that after a preliminary inquiry found inconsistencies in her allegations and evidence of the extortionate demands, they proceeded with the hotelier's complaint.

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(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 07, 2026 08:11 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).