First Date Nightmare: Bengaluru Techie Blackmailed With Fake Drug Bust, Loses Rs 2 Lakh
News18
In what began as a promising match on a dating app turned into a harrowing nightmare for a Bengaluru techie, whose first date with a woman he met on Bumble cost him Rs 2 lakh.
The young professional, who had been chatting with the woman for weeks over texts and video calls, finally agreed to meet her for coffee. What followed was nothing short of a scripted crime thriller.
After a seemingly normal coffee date, the woman insisted they continue their conversation over drinks in a private room. But moments after settling in, the situation took a terrifying turn. Four men barged into the room, accused the techie of attending a drug-fuelled party, and threatened to call the police. As the techie tried to make sense of what was unfolding, the intruders pulled out sachets of white powder from the woman's bag, declaring them to be narcotics, NDTV reported.
The woman then broke into hysterics, locked herself in another room, and threatened to end her life. Unbeknownst to the victim, she was a part of the gang that had orchestrated the entire scene.
The techie was then extorted — the gang initially demanded Rs 15 lakh to 'let him go," but eventually settled for Rs 2 lakh, which he transferred under pressure.
The crime came to light when the shaken victim approached the police. During the investigation, authorities discovered that the entire act — from the date to the drugs — had been a pre-planned honeytrap. The so-called narcotics were nothing more than baking soda.
Six people have been arrested in connection with the case, including the woman, identified as Sangeetha, and five men: Sharanabasappa, Raju Mane, Shyam Sundar, Abhishek, and Birbal.
Speaking to NDTV, Deputy Commissioner of Police (North East Division) Sajeeth V J said the accused woman, hails from Uttar Pradesh and was working in a dance bar before this.
Authorities suspect that the gang has trapped multiple victims using the same modus operandi. 'They have confessed to having done it before. We are reaching out to identify more victims and gather additional evidence," the officer added.
Police have urged others who may have fallen prey to similar traps to come forward.
Swipe With Caution
'As dating apps become increasingly popular, this case serves as a chilling reminder of how online connections can spiral into real-world dangers. Several cases have come to light where women, in collusion with restaurants and cafés, extorted hefty sums from men by making them pay exorbitant bills on dates."
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First Published:
July 29, 2025, 00:29 IST
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