HYDERABAD: A television anchor, well-known for his crime shows on Telugu television channels, was Sunday arrested for blackmailing the management of a dental college.
Police in Eluru town of West Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh produced Harshavardhan and four others before the media.
The anchor had demanded Rs.10 crore from the management of St. Joseph Dental College located near Eluru, failing which he threatened to air a programme on the alleged irregularities by the management.
According to police, the anchor wanted Rs.1 crore as advance and during a meeting with the college principal Father Bala Saturday evening again threatened to air video clippings if he failed to pay the money.
On a complaint by Bala, police picked up the anchor and four others in Vijayawada late Saturday. Police shifted them to Eluru and formally arrested them Sunday after questioning.
The police investigations revealed that the TV personality was trying to blackmail the college management for last one week.
Police seized two cars, five mobile phones and Rs.37,450 cash from the accused.