The men were targeted through online platforms; their ornaments and mobile phones were stolen
The police team with the seized mobile phones
In a joint operation, the Kashimira and Mandvi Police have arrested two women allegedly involved in a dating-app scam targeting men through online platforms. Police said both women drugged their victims during meetings and escaped with their gold ornaments and mobile phones.
According to investigators, the accused contacted victims through the Happn dating app and met them at lodges across the Mira Road to Virar area. They offered the victims food and drinks at the lodges, mixed intoxicants into cold drinks, and once the victims fell unconscious, they looted them and fled.
The accused have been identified as Bimla Devi, 28, and Ruth Naidu, 30, both residents of Malwani in Malad West.
Police officials said a 31-year-old man from Virar West lodged a complaint at Mandvi Police Station on November 23. In his complaint, he stated that he had matched with an unknown woman on the Happn app and agreed to meet her at a lodge in Virar.
A police officer said, “On November 22, at around 9 pm, the accused woman met the man at a lodge in Virar. She arrived with another woman. The trio rented a room and began consuming alcohol. Moments later, the victim suddenly felt drowsy and fell into a deep sleep. When he woke up at around 8 am, he found that the women had fled with his 2-tola gold chain, mobile phone, and smartwatch, worth a total of Rs 1.83 lakh.”
The victim immediately informed the Mandvi Police, and an FIR was registered under BNS Sections 305 and 3(2).
Police said the investigation revealed a similar case registered at Kashimira Police Station on November 23. In that case, the victim said he had met a woman through the Happn dating app at a lodge in Mira Road, where another woman later joined them. They drank alcohol at night, and he became unconscious. When he woke up the next morning, his gold chain and mobile phone were missing.
Investigators said the accused deleted their dating profiles after each robbery, had provided unclear ID cards and fake mobile numbers.
Senior PI Ranjeet Andhale of Mandvi Police Station, Virar, said, “With the help of CCTV cameras, we identified and traced them to the Malwani area. We also recovered the gold and mobile phones.”
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