Kochi: A day after a case was registered against a Kochi police sub-inspector and two spa employees for allegedly extorting ₹4 lakh from another policeman, the prime accused, Grade Sub-Inspector KK Baiju of Palarivattom Police Station, has been placed under suspension. Kochi City Police Commissioner Putta Vimaladitya issued the suspension order on Sunday, pending a detailed departmental inquiry.

However, Baiju remains absconding, along with third accused Ramya, an employee of the spa involved in the incident. Palarivattom police said a manhunt is underway to trace both.

Meanwhile, second accused Shiham, another staffer at the Royal Wellness Spa, was arrested and remanded to judicial custody on Sunday. Police sources confirmed that Shiham admitted to receiving ₹1 lakh out of the extorted ₹4 lakh.

“How much Baiju and Ramya received from the extorted money is yet to be determined. Their arrest is crucial for confirming the full money trail. A detailed investigation needs to be done. We are also checking whether the accused persons have used the same modus operandi to extort others who have visited the spa. Further details will be clear only after their arrests,” a senior police officer said.

According to the FIR registered by Palarivattom police, Baiju collaborated with Ramya and Shiham to blackmail and extort money from a civil police officer (CPO) attached to the Kochi City Armed Reserve (AR) Camp.

The complainant had visited the Royal Wellness Spa in Edappally around 5.30 pm on August 8 for a body massage. The following morning, Ramya called him claiming a gold chain she had removed during the massage was missing. She demanded ₹6.5 lakh, accusing him of theft.

When the policeman refused to pay and told her to file a complaint, the pressure intensified.

Shiham repeatedly phoned him, allegedly threatening to disclose his spa visit to his wife and relatives. Police sources said the trio even threatened to release CCTV footage from the spa.

At this point, SI Baiju allegedly entered the picture as a “mediator”, but instead facilitated the extortion. He warned the complainant that a case would be registered over the “missing chain” and that his family would find out about his visit. Under sustained threats, the policeman transferred ₹4 lakh in instalments to the accused. Baiju also took a share of the money, police said.

When the trio demanded more money, the victim approached Palarivattom Inspector SR Saneesh, leading to a case being registered under BNS 308(2) (extortion/robbery) and 3(5) (crime committed in furtherance of common intention).