The Rohtak police have exposed a dangerous criminal ring that utilized social media and luxury lifestyle lures to trap and extort prominent local businessmen.
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The Modus Operandi: Police revealed that the women used high-end profiles on Instagram and dating apps to target businessmen and property dealers. After a few days of chatting, the targets were invited to a hotel room where another accomplice would hiddenly record the encounter.
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The Extortion Phase: Once the video was captured, the gang would shift into “blackmail mode.” The victims were shown the footage and told that if they didn’t pay a “settlement fee,” the video would be sent to their families or uploaded to social media. In some cases, the women threatened to register a police case for sexual assault to further intimidate the victims.
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The Crackdown: The gang’s run ended when a local businessman, who was being pressured to pay ₹10 lakh, decided to cooperate with the police. A trap was laid at a designated meeting point where the women arrived to collect the first installment. The police caught them red-handed with the marked currency.
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Recovered Evidence: Authorities have seized four mobile phones containing several “objectionable” videos of different men, indicating that the gang had multiple victims. Most victims had previously remained silent out of fear of social stigma.
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Police Statement: “We have arrested three women and are investigating if any hotel staff or a ‘mastermind’ male accomplice provided technical support for the hidden cameras. We urge other victims to come forward; their identities will be kept strictly confidential,” said a senior Rohtak police official.
