BELAGAVI (Thursday, March 12, 2026) — Belagavi Police have arrested a 33-year-old woman, Deepa Avatagi, for allegedly running a sophisticated honey-trap operation targeting wealthy businessmen. Avatagi, who posed as a professional fashion designer, is accused of luring men via social media, robbing them at local lodges, and later blackmailing them for large sums of money.
The Modus Operandi: The “Shower Trap”
According to Belagavi Police Commissioner Bhushan Gulabrao Borase, the duo operated with a calculated routine to avoid physical confrontation during the initial robbery.
- Social Media Bait: Deepa used platforms like Instagram and Facebook to identify and befriend affluent individuals.
- The Lure: After establishing a rapport through “obscene chats,” she would invite the victims to meet at private lodges in Belagavi city.
- The Theft: Once at the lodge, she would ask the victim to take a shower. While the man was in the bathroom, she would allegedly lock the door from the outside, seize his cash, mobile phone, and car keys, and flee the premises.
- Blackmail: Using the victim’s phone or contact info, she and her accomplice would later demand money, threatening to file a false police complaint or leak their private chats if they refused to pay.
Significant Recoveries
A police team led by Inspector Parashuram Poojari tracked Deepa using CCTV footage from various hotels. The scale of the operation is evident in the assets seized:
| Category | Items Recovered |
| Luxury Vehicles | 3 Cars (including a Toyota Fortuner and a Maruti Suzuki S-Cross) |
| Electronic Devices | 11 Mobile Phones, 1 Tablet, 1 Dongle |
| Cash & Valuables | ₹14,000 in cash and 3 sets of car keys |
| Total Estimated Value | ₹32.86 Lakh |
The Accomplice
The police are currently searching for Shivanand Mathapati, a resident of Hukkeri, who remains absconding.
- Role: Mathapati reportedly acted as the “informant,” supplying Deepa with details on potential wealthy targets.
- Criminal History: Investigation revealed that Mathapati was previously arrested by the Bengaluru Police for similar offenses.
Sources
- Press Trust of India (PTI): “Woman arrested for cheating, robbing wealthy men after luring them in Karnataka’s Belagavi” (March 12, 2026)
- The Hindu: “Woman arrested on the charge of honey trapping businessmen” (March 11, 2026)
- Times of India: “Fashion designer held for honey-trap racket in Belagavi” (March 10, 2026)
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