Actress Shamna Kasim has been in the news with the Kochi police nabbing a gang involved in the case of threatening the actress. According to the police, the gang had targeted other young aspiring actors and models, and planned to kidnap Shamna Kasim for ransom.
The plot was foiled after Shamna Kasim's family petitioned the police. The family had registered the complaint after a few men approached her family with a marriage proposal for the actress, and later threatened her. Kochi City Police Commissioner Vijay Sakhare told media that his team has arrested eight of the 12 gang members.
Dismissing rumours that she knew the culprits, Shamna took to social media to issue a statement and urged people to not propagate fake news about her. Thanking fans for their support, she wrote, "Thank you for the wonderful support my dear friends and well-wishers during this ordeal. I just would like to clarify on few unreal reports in few media relating my case. I do not know the culprit and gang who are part of this blackmailing saga hence I am pleading to all my media friends not to propagate such fake news linking me with the culprit (sic)."
She requested everyone to respect her family's privacy till the police probe is completed. Her statement read, "My family had decided to lodge a complaint because we had been cheated with fake names, fake addresses, deceitful identities with a marriage proposal that completely misled us. This eventually led to blackmail for which we decided to approach the police for legal action. We never knew and still don't know what their intentions were or are. Currently, the Kerala police are doing an excellent job after my complaint and they have nabbed all the culprits. Therefore I am requesting all my media friends not to infringe on my family's and my personal privacy rights until the investigation is over. I have complete faith and trust in our criminal justice system. I will definitely meet the media once the case is resolved (sic)."
Harris, a make-up artist associated with the film industry was arrested on Monday, along with another key accused Rafeeque. After Shamna filed the complaint, more people had come forward with complaints against the gang.
