Ottapalam: A woman has been arrested for allegedly cheating a retired revenue official of nearly ₹20 lakh after befriending him. The accused, Princy (46) of USB Garden, Paruvassery, Vadakkenchery, was arrested based on a complaint filed by the retired official from Ottapalam.

According to police, the complainant became acquainted with Princy in 2006 while working at the Ottapalam Land Tribunal. Over the years, she allegedly got money, mobile phones, clothes and other valuables from him by citing various personal needs. Police said Princy later informed the complainant that their relationship had become known to her family and was causing problems. She then allegedly claimed she needed a house to stay and sought financial assistance. The complainant reportedly took a loan of ₹5 lakh from Kerala Bank and handed over the amount to her. She is accused of extorting more money from him through threats.

As the alleged intimidation continued, the complainant approached the Ottapalam police in February 2026. Princy later sought anticipatory bail from the Kerala High Court, but her plea was rejected. She was arrested after appearing at the police station, produced before a court and remanded.

Princy is also facing another case at the Vadakkenchery Police Station, where a former police officer has accused her of cheating ₹40 lakh. In that case, she allegedly befriended the officer, exchanged messages through social media, and later, along with three others, threatened him and extorted money.

Police suspect that Princy may have trapped and defrauded several other people in a similar manner. However, many victims are believed to have refrained from filing complaints due to fear of embarrassment and social stigma.

Princy runs a beauty parlour in Vadakkenchery, and investigators suspect that the establishment may have been used as a front for her activities.