Bengaluru, Apr 21 (PTI): Three police constables and two women have been arrested for allegedly running an extortion racket, which used to dupe people of money to the tune of lakhs of rupees after honey trapping them.

City's Crime Branch officials acting on the complaint filed by a realtor arrested the accused yesterday, who have been remanded to police custody.

CCB officials said two women who were part of the racket used to take realtors and rich people on the pretext of wanting to discuss a property issue to a flat and force them to disrobe.

Posing as CCB sleuths, the three constables would pretend to crack down on a "prostitution racket", barge into the flat and take photos. They would then demand money from the victims for not registering the case, CCB officials said.

The officials said the group which demanded Rs two lakh from the complainant has taken Rs 25,000 from him. The accused have been identified as Yatish and Basavaraju of Sanjaynagar police station, and Vijaykumar of Peenya Police station and two women.

Police have seized seven mobile phones, three police ID cards and a cheque belonging to the complainant.