Jaipur, Nov 10 — A shocking case of kidnapping, assault and extortion has come to light in Rajasthan's Jaisalmer, where a young man was allegedly lured into a meeting through the dating app Grindr, abducted and forced to transfer Rs 1.42 lakh from his bank account through UPI. Acting swiftly, Jaisalmer police arrested six suspects within just two hours of receiving information about the incident.
The accused also allegedly snatched his mobile phone and ATM card and recorded photographs and videos of him.
According to police, Dalendra Bhatia, a resident of Jaisalmer, lodged a complaint at Kotwali police station on November 9. He alleged that four men took him away from the city in a vehicle and assaulted him after reaching an isolated location.
The accused allegedly snatched his mobile phone and ATM card before forcing him to transfer Rs 1.42 lakh from his bank account through UPI.
A black Hyundai Creta was reportedly used in the crime.
Preliminary police investigations revealed that the victim had come into contact with the accused through the Grindr dating app.
The suspects allegedly asked him to share his location near Gita Ashram in Jaisalmer to arrange a meeting.
Subsequently, one of the accused arrived in a vehicle and picked him up. After travelling a short distance, other accomplices joined them.
The group then allegedly took the victim against his will towards Baramsar, outside Jaisalmer city. At the secluded location, the accused allegedly assaulted him, seized his belongings and coerced him into transferring Rs 1.42 lakh through UPI.
They also took his ATM card and reportedly recorded photographs and videos of him before abandoning him at an isolated spot and fleeing.
Taking serious note of the incident, District Superintendent of Police Abhishek Shivhare directed the formation of several special police teams to identify and apprehend the accused.
Under the supervision of Additional Superintendent of Police Suresh Sankhla and Circle Officer Roop Singh Inda, police teams launched searches at multiple locations across Jaisalmer.
Acting on the available information, the police apprehended six suspects within two hours of receiving the complaint. The black Creta allegedly used in the crime was also intercepted and seized from the market area.
Police have additionally initiated steps to freeze the UPI transactions through which the money was transferred.
The six arrested suspects are reportedly residents of Uttar Pradesh. A case has been registered at Kotwali police station in Jaisalmer.
The accused are being interrogated, while investigators are examining the financial transactions and other aspects of the alleged kidnapping and extortion.
Police are also investigating whether the accused were involved in similar incidents targeting people through dating applications.