The Pune city police have arrested a gang of five who allegedly robbed men looking for a same-sex relationships through “Grindr”, a dating application for LGBTQIA+ individuals.

Police have identified the accused persons as Rahil Akil Shaikh (19), Nuhan Naeem Shaikh (18) both from Kondhwa Budruk, Wahid Dastagir Shaikh (18) of Kondhwa Khurd, Shahid Shahnoor Momin (25) and Ishan Nisar Shaikh (25), both from Katraj.

The break-through came in during the investigation of a first information report (FIR) lodged by a 27 year old man from Wagholi, at the Kondhwa police station.

As stated in the FIR, the victim, working at a private company, was going to Swargate from the Katraj – Kondhwa road by bus, around 7.30 pm on January 11. It further stated that he received a message from an ID named “ImTop”, used by a person identifying himself as Rahil. The victim then spoke to Rahil on WhatsApp after.

The FIR mentions that Rahil called the victim to Kondhwa around 9 pm for “hook up”. Accordingly, the victim reached the spot. Here, Rahil came with his friend on a two-wheeler. The duo took the victim with them, saying they were going to Rahil’s house in Yewalewadi area. But, instead they took him to an open area in Pansare Nagar.

As per the FIR, Rahil called two more people at the spot. Rahil and the others beat the victim badly and threatened to kill him by pointing a “koyta (machete)”, they robbed his cell phone, gold chain, two gold rings, a silver ring and cash of Rs 800. They also snatched his ATM card and forcibly took the pin number, which they used to withdraw Rs 10,500 from the victim’s account, police said.

In fear that he would be outed to his family, the victim did not lodge a police complaint initially. But later, after discussing the incident with a relative, he approached the police and lodged the FIR on January 20.

A team led by senior police inspector Kumar Gahadge of Kondhwa police station launched a probe. Cops checked videos captured by several CCTV cameras around the crime scene and other locations for clues. Also, police probed the cell phone number used by an accused for contacting the victim.

Based on inputs received by policemen Pushpendra Chavan and Suhan More during the investigation, the suspects were arrested from a spot near the residence of accused Rahil Shaikh, within a day. Police booked the accused persons under Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) sections 309(4), 115(2), 352,351(2)(3), 3(5).

Police sub inspector Ravindra Gawade, the investigation officer said, “The probe so far revealed that the accused have robbed at least two more through Grindr. Victims in both these cases have lodged separate FIRs at Kondhwa police station. We have seized three stolen cell phones, a koyta and two-wheelers used by the accused for committing the crimes.”

“The accused were targeting men looking for same-sex dating. The main accused Rahil had downloaded the Grindr app on his cell phone for this purpose. The accused believed that victims would not file any complaint with the police. One of the accused Ishan Shaikh has a previous criminal record of three cases, including one under the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) and was currently out on bail. Further investigation is on.” he said.

A court has remanded the accused to police custody till January 23. Police would further take custody of the accused in cases filed by two more victims, including a 24 year old man from Pisoli, working at a private company in Wakad.

Police said the accused contacted the man through Grindr, and called him to Kausar Baug area in Kondhwa for a meeting, on the evening of December 28, 2025. But later, the accused robbed his cell phone, ornaments and other valuables, all worth Rs 33,300, by pointing a sharp weapon at him. He too lodged the FIR late on January 20.

Police said, the accused similarly robbed a cell phone and money, all worth Rs 30,000, from a 32-year old man from Kondhwa, working at a prominent hospital in the city, around 8 pm on December 31, 2025. He lodged an FIR of robbery on January 1, but did not mention about the dating App in his complaint. But, a probe now revealed that he too was targeted by the accused through the Gay dating application, police said.

There have been multiple similar cases in the past. In July last year, the police had arrested two for allegedly robbing a 22-year-old restaurant staffer, after calling him for a meeting through a dating application for LGBTQ persons. The victim had lodged the FIR in this case at the Nanded City Police station.

Even in previous cases, the police observed that the accused registered themselves on the dating app only to target gay individuals. Victims in most of these cases were found to be afraid of coming forward with complaints, as they did not want their families to know they were using such apps.
Police have appealed to people to be very cautious while using dating apps, and should report crimes to the cops immediately.