India, July 29 -- A husband-wife duo was arrested in Kerala for attempting to extort Rs.30 crore from the owner of an IT company in Kochi's Infopark, police said on Tuesday, adding that the couple was threatening to tarnish the man's reputation with a false rape case.

The first accused, Swetha Babu, had earlier worked at the company but resigned, news agency PTI quoted police as saying, adding that her husband Krishna Raj spread rumours that she had an illicit relationship with the IT company's owner.

They then allegedly warned they would lodge a rape complaint against him unless he paid them, police added.

On July 23, the couple met company staff -- including two employees and a director -- at a hotel. They allegedly demanded Rs.30 cr...