Rajkot: Lured through Tinder, Gujarat man held at knifepoint, robbed of Rs 55,000

Four people were arrested on Thursday evening for holding a 28-year-old trader from Junagadh at knifepoint and robbing him of Rs 55,000 after luring him via Tinder, a popular dating application.

The four accused have been identified as Sharfaraz Bukhari (29), Arbaz Bloch (18), Irfan Sanghi (30) and Ejaz Rafai (27).

Junagadh man Solanki (name changed) was lured by a man posing as a woman on Tinder. They exchanged messages for a few days and Solanki was asked to meet 'her' near the Ghanchivada area of the city. Upon reaching, Solanki was asked to come to Kasar-e-Khawaja apartment for the meeting.

Pradeepsinh Jadeja deputy superintendent of police of Junagadh said, "When Solanki entered the flat, a person closed the door and other three persons started beating him with sticks and iron pipe. He was put at knifepoint and asked to pay money. The accused thereafter made him transfer Rs 31,000 into their account through Google Pay and forced him to give his ATM card and withdrew Rs 24,000 from an ATM."

After being let go, Solanki called his friend and they both contacted the police.

The police on Thursday they got an tip that four suspicious people, having past criminal record, are gathered near the railway track of Ghanchipat area. The police arrested them and during interrogation the accused admitted to have kidnapped Solanki and forced him to pay Rs 55,000.

The police recovered cash worth Rs 43,800 and a knife used in the kidnapping.