In a disturbing incident highlighting the dangers of online interactions, police in Surat have arrested five individuals, including three minors, for allegedly extorting a sum of ₹70,000 from a 27-year-old textile unit manager. The crime was orchestrated by luring the victim through a popular gay dating application.
The Deceptive Connection on a Dating App
According to the official complaint, the victim, who works as a manager at a textile unit in the Laskana area, had installed the gay dating app Grindr on his phone approximately five months ago. The trouble began on December 27, when he received a message from a user identifying himself as Mihir. After a brief exchange of messages, the two agreed to meet.
Mihir initially asked the manager to come near Shyam Mandir. Upon reaching that location, the suspect shared a live location pin, directing the victim to a secluded mango orchard near Saagwadi in Laskana.
The Orchestrated Orchard Ambush
Once the victim arrived at the designated spot in the orchard, Mihir was present and led him further inside. It was there that the situation turned violent. Four other accomplices emerged and confronted the textile manager.
The group of accused allegedly began threatening the victim, falsely accusing him of drug consumption and involvement in illicit activities. They then assaulted him, snatched his mobile phone and wallet, and used physical force to coerce him into revealing his phone passwords.
The Digital and Physical Theft
The assailants did not stop at physical assault and theft of physical items. They forced the victim to share his UPI credentials. Using these details, the accused transferred a total of ₹68,000 in multiple transactions to the bank account of one of the individuals involved. They also took whatever cash was available in his wallet.
Before releasing the terrified victim, the perpetrators issued stern threats, warning him against reporting the incident to the police. They returned his mobile phone, but only after switching it off. When the manager later turned on his device, he discovered that the accused had deleted all the chat history and the dating app itself in an attempt to destroy evidence.
Police Action and Arrests
After managing to return home, the victim confided in his brother. Supported by his sibling, he mustered the courage to approach the Laskana police station and file a formal complaint. Acting swiftly on the information, the police investigated the case and succeeded in tracking down and arresting the five accused involved in the elaborate extortion scheme.
The case underscores the risks associated with meeting strangers through digital platforms and highlights how criminals are exploiting dating apps to target and blackmail individuals. Authorities continue to advise caution and prompt reporting of such crimes.
