Lured via Grindr, Gurgaon youth kidnapped for Rs 37,000 ransom; four arrested

The arrested accused have been identified as Ajay (21, studying in an ITI), and two 18-year-olds. The three are residents of Charkhi Dadri district. The fourth accused, Anil (33, a Class 12 passout), is a resident of Gadrai village in the same district.

Police said during questioning, the accused admitted to kidnapping another man the same day from Asandh, Karnal district, to obtain a bank account for routing the ransom money. The second victim was also rescued safely, police said.

The Gurgaon youth was kidnapped on December 6 when he had gone to a gurdwara for prayers.

“The 20-year-old victim had developed acquaintance with the accused through the Grindr social networking app about 10 days ago. On December 6, around 4.30 am, after the youth reached the Sector 9 roundabout on the Dwarka Expressway following morning prayers, the accused picked him up in a rented black Scorpio, injected him with a sedative, and took him towards Haridwar,” a police spokesperson said.

While the victim was unconscious, the accused made WhatsApp calls from his phone to demand ransom from the family, police added.

“They forced the family to transfer Rs 21,000 to a bank account belonging to one Manpreet, Rs 6,000 to another account, and Rs 10,000 through the victim’s phone — totalling Rs 37,000. Manpreet had been abducted earlier on December 6 from Asandh, specifically to use his account for the transaction,” the spokesperson said.

A complaint was lodged at Rajendra Park police station around 4.30 am on December 6 after the youth did not return home. Initially registered under Section 127(6) of the BNS for a missing person, the case was converted to kidnapping for ransom under Section 140(2) BNS on Sunday.

A joint team of the Palam Vihar Crime Branch and Rajendra Park police traced the accused to Umri Chowk in Kurukshetra and arrested them on Sunday afternoon. Both victims were rescued safely.

“From the possession of the accused, police seized the black Scorpio used in the crime and 11 mobile phones. The accused said they are drug addicts and committed the abductions to fund their habit,” officers said.

In an appeal, the Gurgaon Police urged the public to exercise caution while making friends with strangers on social media platforms and applications. “Do not meet unknown persons contacted through such apps without informing family or friends,” police said.