A shocking robbery has been reported in Bengaluru's Nagarabhavi area after a man allegedly invited an individual he believed to be a woman to a house through an online dating application. However, the person who arrived at the house was reportedly a transgender individual.
The situation took a violent turn when another transgender person allegedly joined the individual, and the two threatened the man with a knife before escaping with gold jewellery weighing 226 grams and worth approximately Rs 20 lakh. The incident reportedly occurred on October 22, and a case has been registered at the Chandralayout Police Station. Police have launched an investigation to identify and trace the accused.
According to the complaint, Rohit, an IT professional, had been living with his family in Nagarabhavi for approximately seven years. His wife had travelled to Tamil Nadu on October 21. The following afternoon, Rohit reportedly went to his house in Hesaraghatta and handed over the keys to his trusted friend Tilak (name changed), asking him to stay at the Nagarabhavi house for a day.
Tilak accepted the keys and arrived at the house at around 7.30 pm on October 22. Since he was staying alone at the property, he reportedly began chatting with an individual through Grindr, an online dating application used by members of the LGBTQ+ community.
Believing that he was communicating with a woman, Tilak continued the conversation and eventually invited the person to the house. At approximately 10.15 pm, an individual wearing a face mask arrived at the residence. However, when the visitor removed the mask, Tilak reportedly realised that the person was transgender.
Around 10 minutes later, another transgender individual arrived at the house. What initially appeared to be a social meeting allegedly turned into a robbery when both individuals reportedly threatened Tilak with a knife. The accused allegedly intimidated him and prevented him from resisting their actions.
According to the complaint, the two individuals subsequently broke open the bedroom door and entered the room where the valuables were kept. They allegedly searched the cupboard and escaped with gold jewellery weighing approximately 226 grams. The stolen ornaments were reportedly worth around Rs 20 lakh.
The jewellery included a mangalsutra, a necklace, bangles, three gold chains, a bracelet, five rings and three pairs of gold earrings. After collecting the valuables, the accused reportedly fled from the house. The incident left Tilak shocked, and he subsequently informed his friend Rohit about what had happened.
After receiving the information, Rohit immediately returned to the Nagarabhavi residence and checked the cupboard. He reportedly found that several gold ornaments belonging to the family were missing. Following this, he approached the Chandralayout Police Station and lodged a complaint regarding the robbery.
The complaint detailed how the individuals had allegedly entered the house after establishing contact through the dating application, threatened Tilak with a knife and escaped with valuable jewellery. The total loss has been estimated at approximately Rs 20 lakh.
Following the complaint, Chandralayout police registered a case and initiated an investigation. Investigators are reportedly examining CCTV footage from the surrounding areas to identify the individuals involved in the robbery.
Police are also analysing phone call records and other available information to trace the accused and establish their movements before and after the incident. The use of an online dating application to establish contact with the victim is also an important aspect of the investigation. Further details are expected to emerge as the police continue their efforts to identify and apprehend those responsible.
The incident has once again highlighted the potential risks associated with meeting strangers through online platforms without verifying their identities. Dating applications are widely used by people to connect with others, but users should exercise caution when arranging private meetings, particularly at homes.
Sharing meeting details with trusted friends, choosing public places for initial meetings and avoiding the disclosure of sensitive personal information can help reduce risks. Police are continuing their investigation into the Nagarabhavi robbery, and the accused have yet to be apprehended, according to the details provided in the complaint.
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