Victim lured to isolated pipeline cycle track road, confined for nearly three hours, forced to transfer Rs 20K to account linked to allegedly accused
The victim travelled from Telangana to Mumbai for a Grindr date on New Year’s Eve. Representation pic/istock
A 27-year-old man from Telangana was allegedly confined for three hours and robbed during a New Year’s Eve meet arranged through an LGBTQIA+ dating app in Powai. Police said the incident occurred on December 31 on the pipeline cycle track road behind Amrut Bar. The victim had travelled to Mumbai after connecting with a man on Grindr.
Investigators said the complainant was lured to the isolated spot by a man using a fake profile, along with two accomplices. The accused allegedly restrained the victim, prevented him from leaving or making phone calls, and falsely accused him of attempting theft.
Under threats and verbal abuse, the victim was allegedly forced to transfer Rs 20,000 via a mobile scanner-based online transaction. Police said the money was credited to an account linked to Parshu Gaikar. The victim was released only after the transfer was completed.
Powai police said the victim did not approach them immediately as he was not in a stable mental state. He later filed a complaint on Saturday, after which a case was registered against Gaikar and two other suspected accomplices under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for robbery and wrongful confinement.
Preliminary investigation indicates the two unidentified suspects were staying at a nearby hostel. CCTV footage from the area has been collected and is being analysed to identify the accused and establish the sequence of events.
“A case has been registered against Parshu Gaikar and two suspected accomplices. Efforts are on to trace and apprehend all those involved,” a police officer said.
Police have urged users of online dating platforms to avoid isolated locations and inform friends or family before meeting strangers contacted through such apps.
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