Three younger professionals just lately fell sufferer to a courting app rip-off. A woman was discovered linked to the victims by way of varied courting apps. She allegedly took them to the Purple Room Pub in Andheri West on completely different events, ordered numerous exhausting drinks, meals and hookah, earlier than disappearing, forsaking large payments.
The rip-off got here to mild when males’s rights activist Deepika Bhardwaj posted on X (previously Twitter) in regards to the incidents two days in the past. Hema Chowdhary, one of many pub’s homeowners, has denied all allegations.
In April, a 32-year-old banker was launched to a 26-year-old lady, Manasi Karma, a make-up artist. They met at Infinity Mall in Andheri West and she or he insisted they go to the Purple Room Pub. The sufferer claimed that she ordered drinks, prawns and salad, hookah for herself; all billed at Rs43,000. Nevertheless, the lady disappeared on the pretext of an emergency. The sufferer needed to pay on-line, however the waiter demanded money. On persuasion, he was allowed to pay digitally. He mentioned that her photograph on-line was completely different from her social avatar.
One other related incident occurred with a 33-year-old who works with an NGO. In March, he linked with a 26-year-old lady (Tanvi) by way of a courting app. She advised him she had come from Delhi trying to find a job. They met on the identical place, woman ordered lavishly; all billed at Rs24,000. She pretended to name her good friend for assist and left the pub. The sufferer was allegedly crushed up by the waiters when he couldn’t pay. He paid Rs13,000, and his uncle despatched Rs6,000 on-line. He reported the incident to the deputy commissioner of police, who suggested him to file a criticism with Amboli police.
The third sufferer, a 30-year-old man, had the same encounter with a 25-year-old lady, who launched herself as a make-up artist from Delhi. The invoice for his or her assembly on the identical pub was Rs8,800 and he requested her to pay half. She went to the washroom and by no means returned.
Deepika Bhardwaj, a journalist and social activist, alleged, “A number of males have been scammed equally right here. These girls are engaged by the membership to lure males by means of courting apps, and costly liquor to inflate the invoice. The woman leaves making an excuse, and the boys are crushed up or threatened. I hope the Mumbai Police take strict motion. The sample is identical as in Delhi, Hyderabad and different cities. After I uncovered a rip-off in Hyderabad, DCP Cyberabad took suo motu cognisance, resulting in FIRs and arrests. Lakhs have been recovered from these concerned.”
Hema Chowdhary, the pub’s co-owner, denied the allegations. She mentioned, “We cost as per the foundations and costs are listed on the menu. Our workers isn’t concerned in any rip-off. The boys ought to file a case in opposition to courting apps as an alternative of us. Nobody beats up any buyer, there are CCTVs put in. If they don’t have the cash, they need to go to a cheaper restaurant. They need to have approached the police as an alternative of an activist.”
Printed on: Sunday, July 21, 2024, 06:48 AM IST
