In Aligarh, the police has exposed an alleged gang that befriends youth through dating apps and calls them on the pretext of meeting them, then makes obscene videos of them and blackmails them and extorts money. Police investigation so far has revealed that this gang targeted 24 youth. Police have arrested one accused. Obscene videos of 10 youth have been recovered from his mobile phone. The investigation of the case is still going on.
The matter came to light on Friday, when a 19-year-old BBA student of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) lodged a complaint with the police. The student alleges that he was held hostage in a hostel room and assaulted. During this time, an obscene video of her was made and later she was blackmailed by threatening to make the video viral.
How did the police become suspicious of the gang?
Meanwhile, another youth contacted the police. After finding similar method of blackmailing in both the cases, the police suspected that some gang was active behind it. Based on the identification of the victims, the police arrested an accused. During investigation of his mobile phone, obscene videos of 10 youth were found. Police are now investigating these videos and other digital evidence.
Called to AMU hostel after 'friendship on app'
According to the BBA student, he had received a friendship request from a young man on Grindr app. There was a conversation between the two. After this he was called for a meeting at Vikar-ul-Mulk Hall of Aligarh Muslim University. The student alleges that after reaching the room, he was taken hostage and beaten. During this time his obscene video was also recorded. After this the accused threatened to make the video viral and extorted Rs 5,600 from him. On the complaint of the student's father, the police registered an FIR in the Civil Lines police station and started investigating the matter.
Another youth was targeted through the app
While the investigation into the student's complaint was going on, another youth from Bannadevi area approached the police. He also told that he was blackmailed after coming in contact through the Grindr app. In both the cases, the police found the style of the accused to be similar. Earlier youth were contacted through dating apps. After this he was called to some place on the pretext of meeting. After both these incidents came to light, the police increased the scope of investigation.
According to the police, so far the names and addresses of 10 such youth have come to light, who were allegedly made their victims by this gang.
How was blackmailing done?
Police investigation has revealed that the accused had created accounts on dating apps. Through these accounts he used to send friendship requests to the youth. After the conversation, they were called to isolated or different places on the pretext of meeting.
It is alleged that after the youth reached there, objectionable videos of them were recorded. After this, other members of the gang also reached the spot. Money was demanded from the youth by threatening to make the video viral and they were blackmailed.
Police are now investigating the mobile phones, dating app accounts, chats and digital transactions of the accused. Investigation is being done to find out how many people were threatened through these videos and through what means the blackmail amount was recovered.
How did the gang reach AMU hostel?
The biggest question in this case is how the accused got access to the AMU hostel. According to the complaint, the BBA student was called to a room in Vikar-ul-Mulk Hall, while the student himself lives in GM Hall. For this reason, the police is trying to find out how the outsiders reached the hostel and who gave them permission or help to use the room.
What are the police investigating?
Police are also investigating whether the gang got help from any student or any other person. The role of some outsiders and people associated with AMU is also being investigated. Was the network limited to a single room in the hostel or was it spread across the entire campus?
Police have further expanded the scope of investigation. Now efforts are being made to find out whether the activities of the alleged gang were limited to just one room in the hostel or whether its network extended to other parts of the university campus as well.
Police are examining digital records and other evidence of the accused. On this basis, efforts are being made to find out how many youths were targeted by the gang and who were the people associated with it.
What did CO Sarvam Singh say?
CO Sarvam Singh said that an accused has been arrested in the case. Videos of 10 victims have been found from his mobile phone. Digital evidence is being investigated in the case. The police are now investigating the role of this entire network, the contacts of the accused and the digital transactions related to blackmailing.