The Cheemeni police have arrested a 28-year-old man for the alleged extortion of ₹20 lakh from a studio owner in Cheruvathur.

The arrested is identified as M. Zulfiqar, a resident within the Cheemeni police station limits. The police said he allegedly carried out the fraud using the name Azeez.

According to the complaint, the accused, his wife, and their associates allegedly extorted around ₹20 lakh from him through bank transactions over a period of time since last year.

The police said Zulfiqar and his wife became acquainted with the complainant while staying in a rented house at Karivellur. The accused was produced before a court and remanded to judicial custody.