Gang using gay dating app to trap, blackmail men busted in Lucknow; 4 arrested

LUCKNOW: The Aliganj police busted a gang that allegedly targeted men through a gay dating application, lured them to private locations and then blackmailed them after secretly filming them, forcing victims to transfer money through QR-code payments.

Four members of the gang were arrested, while a 17-year-old minor, who allegedly played a key role in luring victims, was detained. However, two other members of the pan-India gang, who were alleged to be the masterminds, are elusive. The gang committed similar cases in parts of UP and other states, including Delhi, West Bengal, Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Maharashtra.

The police said the accused contacted victims through the popular dating app, built rapport through chats and persuaded them to meet at a private house or rented room.

Once the victim arrived, the gang executed a pre-planned operation in which other members suddenly barged into the room, began recording videos and threatened to make the footage viral unless the victim paid money.

Additional DCP (north) Rishabh Runwal said the action was carried out by a joint team of the North Zone SWAT team, surveillance unit and Aliganj police after a complaint was lodged on Mar 15. The complainant alleged that several men forcibly entered his house, threatened him, forced him to transfer money online and fled with his mobile phone and other belongings.

During the investigation, police analysed electronic evidence and launched checks on suspicious persons and vehicles early on Sunday.

Acting on a tip-off, the police team surrounded five suspects near the Sector-E dumping ground and arrested them around 5.50 am. The arrested accused were Khalid Ahmad (23), a resident of Shakti Nagar in Indira Nagar; Devkaran Singh (23) of Sarvodaya Nagar; Akash Pandey (21), originally from Azamgarh but currently residing in Aliganj; and Subhash Rawat alias Golu (22) of Kurmanchal Nagar. A 17-year-old minor, who allegedly worked as a delivery boy and helped lure victims, was also taken into custody.

Police recovered four mobile phones, three motorcycles and online transaction details showing that victims transferred Rs 19,999 to the accused.

"During interrogation, the accused allegedly told police that a member of the gang would first establish contact with a victim on the dating app and convince him to meet in a room. Soon after the meeting began, other gang members would enter the room on receiving a signal. They would then start recording videos and threaten the victim by claiming he was attempting an inappropriate act with a minor," said Runwal.

Police said the gang would warn the victim that the video would be circulated on social media and that a police complaint would be filed against him unless he paid money. Under pressure, victims were forced to transfer money through QR codes, while the accused also snatched cash, mobile phones, and other valuables before fleeing.

The accused also admitted to carrying out a similar crime about two weeks ago, in which they allegedly looted cash and a hard disk from another victim and forced him to transfer money online. The police said the recovered mobile phones will be sent to a forensic laboratory for digital examination.

Efforts are underway to identify additional victims and to trace other members of the gang.