Madikeri: A man along with his accomplices allegedly blackmailed and swindled several lakhs of rupees from his employer, after staging a marriage of the latter with a teenage girl.

John Mathew, aged 64 and a merchant at Ernakulam in Kerala is the victim, who has lodged a complaint in this regard at Madikeri Town Police Station, against his driver Faizal and his accomplices Basheer, Sadiq, Amir and Jasmine.

According to Mathew, he was made to believe by Faizal that he will arrange his marriage with 19-year-old Jasmine, whom the latter (Faizal) knew well. Faizal introduced Jasmine to Mathew on Nov. 18, where the girl shared her sorrow saying her father has deserted her and her mother who is ailing from breast cancer. They were in a dire need of money.

The accused including Jasmine and Mathew went to Madikeri on Nov. 26, where they stayed in two rooms at a lodge named- Safura Residency. Later, they staged a marriage of Mathew and Jasmine and photographed the moments in camera. The accused threatened Mathew of luring Jasmine to marriage and will inform his family members about the same, it is alleged.

Mathew was forced by the accused to shell out Rs. 8 lakh cash and two different cheques for Rs. one lakh and Rs. 1.10 lakh, before fleeing away.

Madikeri Town Police are investigating the case.