Pune city police arrested four men who allegedly robbed victims after luring them through an online gay dating app. The accused, identified as Wahid Razzak alias Lal Sahab Shaikh (19), Mehboob alias Gaur Javed Shaikh (20), Shrinivas alias Shrinu Nayak (22), and Sohail Gafoor Shaikh (24), all residents of Mangalwar Peth, were apprehended after an investigation was launched based on a First Information Report (FIR) filed at the Bundgarden police station.
The complainant, a man from Pimpri Chinchwad, had come across the accused’s profile on the gay dating app. After some chatting, the accused invited him for a date near the Regional Transport Office (RTO) near Sangam Bridge on March 18 at around 6:00 pm. Upon arriving at the location, the complainant was confronted by the accused and their aides, who forcibly took him to a secluded spot.
The suspects assaulted the complainant, snatched his debit card, and coerced him into revealing the PIN. They then proceeded to withdraw Rs9,500 from the complainant’s bank account. Before releasing him, the accused also formatted the complainant’s cell phone to prevent him from tracking their information.
The victim immediately filed a report with the police, and Deputy Commissioner of Police Smarthana Patil initiated an investigation into the incident. Police traced the profile used by the accused on the dating app, which provided crucial clues.
Following this lead, police officers Pradip Shitole, Saras Salvi, Prakash Avhad, Dnyaneshwar Bade, and Manoj Bhokar identified the suspects and arrested Wahid on April 1. The other three accused were apprehended shortly thereafter.
Senior Police Inspector Ravindra Gaikwad confirmed that the police had recovered the stolen money and are investigating whether the suspects had targeted other men in a similar manner through the dating app. Police believe some victims may have hesitated to report the crimes due to social stigma.
The accused were remanded to judicial custody and sent to Yerwada Jail. Police sub-inspector Swapnil Lohar, the investigation officer, urged other potential victims to come forward and file complaints without fear of social judgment.
