A man is facing charges for attempting to extort £5 million from the prestigious private members’ club, Soho House, by threatening to sell clients’ information. The accused, Amit Sharma, 50, appeared in court where he was charged with three offenses related to the blackmail attempt on Soho House boss Andrew Carnie.
Sharma is accused of soliciting the hefty sum from Carnie between June 30 and August 8 last year. Additionally, he is charged with unauthorized computer access with the intent to commit other offenses and harassment of Soho House employees during the same period.
Soho House & Co, the parent company of numerous exclusive members’ clubs globally, boasts a star-studded membership list that includes celebrities like Harry and Meghan, the Beckhams, Taylor Swift, and others. Despite the incident, there is no indication that the personal information of high-profile members was compromised.
Sharma, a resident of Bromley, South London, was granted bail with the condition not to contact any Soho House staff. The case has been referred to Woolwich Crown Court for further proceedings, scheduled for June 8.
Established in 1995 above Cafe Boheme in Soho, the first Soho House location now operates in 48 houses across 19 countries, including the popular Soho Farmhouse in the Cotswolds.
