In a shocking case that has exposed the dangers of online dating platforms, a young Chartered Accountant was brutally murdered in a Kolkata hotel after being allegedly trapped by a couple he met through the Bubble dating application.
The Gruesome Discovery
On November 22 afternoon, hotel staff at a Kasba establishment made a horrifying discovery when they found the body of Chartered Accountant Adarsh Losalka in his room. The victim had checked into the hotel on November 21 at 9:30 pm along with two other individuals who would later be identified as the prime suspects in his murder.
Joint Commissioner of Police Rupesh Kumar revealed during a press conference that the crime scene showed clear signs of violence. "There was an injury and blood under the nose," Kumar stated, adding that police found bruise marks on the body and a fractured nose. The condition of the room, including the bed and food items, indicated that a serious physical altercation had taken place.
The Dating App Trap
Police investigation uncovered that Losalka had connected with accused Kamal Saha and Dhruvo Mitra on the Bubble dating app just one day before his tragic death. According to police statements, the accused couple had been using the dating platform together and established contact with the victim through the application.
During interrogation, the accused revealed they were in a live-in relationship and shared a rented apartment in Dum Dum. They claimed that what began as a party in Losalka's hotel room turned violent when an argument escalated into a physical confrontation.
The Aftermath and ATM Fraud
In a chilling sequence of events after the alleged murder, the accused couple panicked and fled the scene, but not before committing financial fraud. Police investigation revealed that Dhruvo and Kamal took the victim's ATM card, cash from his wallet, and both his mobile phones before checking out of the hotel at approximately 2 am.
The accused then booked a Rapido ride to Ultadanga, where they allegedly withdrew Rs 11,000 from an ATM using Losalka's card. Their attempt to evade capture continued as they traveled around the city using local trains.
Investigation Revelations
CCTV footage from the hotel provided crucial evidence, showing the two accused entering Losalka's room on Friday evening and leaving after five and a half hours at 2:30 am. Sources revealed that Losalka, who lived in a rented flat in Kolkata with friends, had booked two rooms in the hotel.
The post-mortem report delivered devastating findings, concluding that Losalka died of strangulation. "The death was due to the effects of mechanical asphyxia resulting from strangulation, antemortem and homicidal in nature," the official report stated. The body was found naked with legs tied using a towel and a deep gash on the back of the head, suggesting the victim was attacked from behind before being strangled.
Police have recovered both of Losalka's phones and seized the accused persons' devices, though all relevant applications had been deleted. The phones are being sent for forensic examination to recover deleted data and establish the exact nature of conversations between the victim and accused.
Further investigation revealed that the accused, both in their 20s, have known each other since Class 11, having studied together in the same school in Barrackpore. Their families are also acquainted with each other, according to police sources.
The case has raised serious concerns about safety on dating platforms and the potential for criminal exploitation of digital connections. Kolkata Police continue their investigation to determine the precise motive behind the brutal murder and the complete sequence of events that led to the young professional's untimely death.
