In a joint operation, the Kashimira and Mandvi Police have arrested two women allegedly involved in a dating-app scam that targeted men through online platforms. The women reportedly drugged their victims during meetings and fled with gold ornaments and mobile phones.
Investigators said the accused contacted victims via the Happn dating app and arranged meetings at lodges across the Mira Road to Virar area. They offered drinks and food laced with intoxicants, causing victims to lose consciousness before stealing their valuables.
The accused have been identified as:
Bimla Devi (28) – Resident of Malwani, Malad West
Ruth Naidu (30) – Resident of Malwani, Malad West
Police said a 31-year-old man from Virar West filed a complaint on November 23 at Mandvi Police Station. According to his statement, he met a woman on Happn at a Virar lodge on November 22. Another woman joined the meeting, and after consuming drinks, he fell unconscious. The next morning, he discovered his 2-tola gold chain, mobile phone, and smartwatch, valued at Rs1.83 lakh, were missing.
Another similar case at Kashimira Police Station revealed the same modus operandi: victims met women on Happn, consumed drinks, lost consciousness, and woke up to find their valuables missing. The accused routinely deleted their dating profiles, used fake ID cards, and provided untraceable mobile numbers after each robbery.
Senior PI Ranjeet Andhale of Mandvi Police Station stated that CCTV footage helped trace the women to Malwani, where police successfully recovered the stolen gold and mobile phones.
