MALAPPURAM: A staff who captured the private pics of a couple whose marriage have been fixed, with a hidden camera in the lodge room has been arrested. The Tirur police arrested Abdul Muneer (35) of Chelambra Makadampally and an employee of the lodge in Kozhikode. The incident happened months ago.

The youth of Tirur and his fiancée, had stayed in the lodge. They booked the room online. Abdul Muneer was the front office staff here. He placed the hidden camera in the mosquito vaporiser.

The accused sent a WhatsApp message to them saying that he has their private pics and would circulate it if they do not pay him Rs 1,45,000. They then filed a complaint with the police.

The police said the youth had first sent the staff Rs 2,000. The youth told him that he has no money and would give gold ornaments. The youth carrying some artificial ornaments reached the place mentioned by the accused with the police. His laptop and hidden camera have been seized.