Dating App Meetup Leads to Terrifying Ordeal in Bengaluru
The Bengaluru Police have successfully cracked a case of robbery and intimidation, leading to the arrest of six individuals, including a 24-year-old gym trainer. The accused allegedly posed as police officers to rob two women software engineers at their residence during a birthday party earlier this month.
The Elaborate Scheme: From Dating App to Fake Drug Raid
The sequence of events began when the primary victim, a software engineer originally from West Bengal, connected with the main accused, Mohammed Najash, on a dating platform. After an initial meeting at a cafeteria, the woman invited Najash to her birthday celebration at her house on November 6.
Najash attended the party with his friend, K T Vinu, 23. It was during this party that Najash, observing the victim's lifestyle, allegedly conceived a plan to rob her. He promptly contacted an associate, M Sarun, 38, and together they recruited more accomplices to execute the scheme that very night.
The Fake Police Raid and Extortion Demands
Later in the evening, a group of men knocked on the woman's door, presenting themselves as delivery agents from a food ordering application. Once inside, they barged in and declared they were police officers conducting an inspection.
The men conducted a fake search and then threatened the two women, accusing them of drug-related offenses. When the terrified victims pleaded their innocence, the imposters demanded a sum of Rs 5 lakh to drop the fictitious charges. After the women explained they did not have the money, the accused seized their mobile phones and instructed them to arrange the cash by the next day before leaving the premises.
Swift Police Action and Arrests
Shaken by the incident, the victims consulted their friends, who advised them to immediately approach the police. The HAL police station took up the investigation.
Officers analyzed Najash's call detail records and scoured CCTV footage from the area. This meticulous investigation led to the identification and subsequent location of all six accused involved in the crime.
The police have arrested Mohammed Najash (24), K T Vinu (23), M Sarun (38), Diwakar (34), Madhu Kumar (32), and Kiran (29). The probe further revealed that Sarun had a previous criminal record, having been involved in a honeytrap case and arrested before. A case of robbery has been registered, and all the accused have been remanded to judicial custody.
