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Hindustan Times
12 hours ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Is Coimbatore the next Bengaluru? Viral post hypes city's silent rise, internet agrees
A social media post highlighting Coimbatore's under-the-radar rise has gone viral, sparking a wave of online responses claiming the southern city is long overdue for national recognition. The observation struck a chord with thousands online.(Unsplash) The post was shared on X (formerly Twitter) by Sidharth, who identifies as a policy and geopolitical strategist in his bio. In the now widely circulated tweet, he wrote, "The world is sleeping on Coimbatore. While everyone's chasing hype in Bengaluru, Chennai and Hyderabad, Coimbatore is quietly building factories, startups, talent. Sometimes the places no one talks about are the ones that matter most." (Also Read: 'Don't impose Kannada in Karnataka': Congress leader Nalapad's remark sparks fury among Kannadigas) Check out his post here: The observation struck a chord with thousands online, leading to an outpouring of praise, and some pushback, about Coimbatore's economic significance and identity. Reactions online One user likened Coimbatore to 'the Denver-Boulder equivalent', referring to its mix of innovation, industry, and quiet growth. Another proudly called it a 'self-made city', adding, 'Coimbatore's economy is robust and driven by strong private sector industries and industrialists who work silently on the holistic development of the city.' Some speculated on the city's future trajectory, with one comment reading: 'So all major IT companies might shift to Coimbatore.' Another simply declared, 'Coimbatore is the best.' But not all agreed with the framing of the city as being 'slept on.' One pointed out,'No, no one is sleeping on Coimbatore. Those who are related to the industry know it. It's not quietly building anything, it's already there. It's just not seen because it's a hardcore engineering hub minus the glamour of IT.' Another echoed that sentiment, saying, 'Coimbatore, my city. It's not building, it's already a hardcore industrial hub.' The conversation highlights a growing awareness of tier-2 and tier-3 cities in India that are rapidly emerging as viable alternatives to metros like Bengaluru and Chennai, especially in sectors like manufacturing, textiles, automotive components, and small-scale tech startups. (Also Read: Bengaluru techie's Bumble date turns into ₹2 lakh extortion after fake drug raid: Report)
India.com
a day ago
- India.com
She Cried, They Threatened, He Paid Rs 2 Lakh: How Bengaluru Techie Trapped In Bumble Blackmail Plot
Bengaluru: What began as just another Bumble match turned into one of those nights the man will never forget, not for romance but for a twisted spiral that started with a latte and ended with a police complaint. The Bengaluru tech professional, who had spent nearly a month chatting casually with a woman named Sangeetha over texts and video calls, finally decided to meet her in person. Their plan was to catch up over coffee and maybe share a drink later. The vibes were good, the conversation flowed and nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Later that evening, Sangeetha suggested they unwind with a drink at a room she had arranged. He agreed. But what happened next did not feel like a bad date. It felt scripted. Within minutes of them settling in, four men barged into the room. Without explanation, they accused the man of being involved in a drug-fueled party. They claimed they were about to call the police. They searched the woman's bag and dramatically pulled out a few packets of white powder. The techie froze. Sangeetha, the woman he had just shared coffee and laughter with, suddenly began sobbing uncontrollably. She rushed into another room and threatened to end her life, claiming she could not bear the shame. The gang circled in. They demanded hush money. A mind-numbing Rs 15 lakh or the man would be dragged into a police case. Panicked and overwhelmed, he begged them to let him go. Hours of pleading followed. Finally, the sum was negotiated down. He handed them Rs 2 lakh and walked out shaken and heart pounding. For three days, he remained silent. But then he went to the police. That single complaint pulled the curtain back on what investigators now call a full-blown extortion racket. Sangeetha was not a random match. She was part of an organised gang that used dating apps to lure targets, stage emotional breakdowns, fake drug busts and squeeze victims for lakhs. The powder that looked like drugs? Just baking soda. The police arrested six people who were identified as Sharanabasappa, Raju Mane, Shyam Sundar, Abhishek, Birbal and the woman, Sangeetha. Deputy Commissioner of Police (North East Division) Sajeeth V J said, 'One of the accused has a prior case for a similar offence in Bengaluru. We are verifying the criminal background of the others. We have learnt that the woman hails from Uttar Pradesh and was working in a dance bar before this.' 'We are investigating further and trying to ascertain how many such victims there are. They have confessed to having done it before, too. We will contact victims and get more details,' he said. Officials now believe this may not be an isolated case. The gang allegedly used dating apps as a hunting ground. Authorities are urging anyone who might have encountered similar situations to step forward. For the techie, the ordeal is over. But the emotional scars and the chilling idea that a friendly match could turn into a trap are likely to stay for much longer.
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
Six held in Bengaluru for extorting Rs 2 lakh from techie in honeytrap
Bengaluru: A gang of six, including a woman, was arrested by Yelahanka police for allegedly extorting Rs 2 lakh from a techie in a honeytrap case recently. She befriended him on a dating app. The arrested are identified as Sangeeta Sahni, 36, a resident of JP Nagar; Sharanabasappa Baliger, 50; Raju Maane, 34; Shyam Sundar, 20; Abhishek, 19; and Beerbal Majjagi, 21. According to deputy commissioner of police (northeast) Sajeeth VJ, private firm employee Rakesh Reddy filed a complaint with Yelahanka police, stating that the woman befriended him on Bumble on July 17 and later, they met in a mall opposite Yelahanka police station. You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru She took him to a house in Ramagondanahalli where they drank alcohol, the complaint said. While they were partying, a group of four people entered the house and accused them of using drugs. They took out a packet of white powder, which they claimed was MDMA, from her bag. The gang told Rakesh that they would get him arrested for drug peddling and extorted Rs 2 lakh from him online. Police, who received the complaint, collected the account number of the accused to which the money was transferred. With the help of the call details record (CDR) and CCTV cameras in the surrounding places, they nabbed the gang. Police found it was a trap laid for Rakesh. Sharanabasappa was allegedly involved in a similar honeytrap case registered at Puttenahalli police station in the south division of Bengaluru in 2023. After coming out of prison, he teamed up with the other accused persons who worked as painters and plumbers, the investigation revealed. Sangeeta, a native of Uttar Pradesh, had earlier worked in a dance bar. The house in Ramagondanahalli was rented by the accused to honeytrap people. Sharanabasappa, Raju, and Shyam have been taken into police custody, while Sangeeta and two others have been remanded in judicial custody. A senior officer said the gang trapped a few others and extorted money, but they have not filed complaints. The victims are being contacted for their statements. During the investigation, police found that the white powder found in Sangeeta's bag was not MDMA; instead, it was baking soda. MSID:: 122956676 413 |
News18
a day ago
- News18
First Date Nightmare: Bengaluru Techie Blackmailed With Fake Drug Bust, Loses Rs 2 Lakh
A Bengaluru techie lost Rs 2 lakh after being blackmailed with a fake drug bust during a first date with a woman he met on Bumble. News18 In what began as a promising match on a dating app turned into a harrowing nightmare for a Bengaluru techie, whose first date with a woman he met on Bumble cost him Rs 2 lakh. The young professional, who had been chatting with the woman for weeks over texts and video calls, finally agreed to meet her for coffee. What followed was nothing short of a scripted crime thriller. After a seemingly normal coffee date, the woman insisted they continue their conversation over drinks in a private room. But moments after settling in, the situation took a terrifying turn. Four men barged into the room, accused the techie of attending a drug-fuelled party, and threatened to call the police. As the techie tried to make sense of what was unfolding, the intruders pulled out sachets of white powder from the woman's bag, declaring them to be narcotics, NDTV reported. The woman then broke into hysterics, locked herself in another room, and threatened to end her life. Unbeknownst to the victim, she was a part of the gang that had orchestrated the entire scene. The techie was then extorted — the gang initially demanded Rs 15 lakh to 'let him go," but eventually settled for Rs 2 lakh, which he transferred under pressure. The crime came to light when the shaken victim approached the police. During the investigation, authorities discovered that the entire act — from the date to the drugs — had been a pre-planned honeytrap. The so-called narcotics were nothing more than baking soda. Six people have been arrested in connection with the case, including the woman, identified as Sangeetha, and five men: Sharanabasappa, Raju Mane, Shyam Sundar, Abhishek, and Birbal. Speaking to NDTV, Deputy Commissioner of Police (North East Division) Sajeeth V J said the accused woman, hails from Uttar Pradesh and was working in a dance bar before this. Authorities suspect that the gang has trapped multiple victims using the same modus operandi. 'They have confessed to having done it before. We are reaching out to identify more victims and gather additional evidence," the officer added. Police have urged others who may have fallen prey to similar traps to come forward. Swipe With Caution 'As dating apps become increasingly popular, this case serves as a chilling reminder of how online connections can spiral into real-world dangers. Several cases have come to light where women, in collusion with restaurants and cafés, extorted hefty sums from men by making them pay exorbitant bills on dates." view comments First Published: July 29, 2025, 00:29 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Hindustan Times
Bengaluru techie's Bumble date turns into ₹2 lakh extortion after fake drug raid: Report
What began as a seemingly promising date for a Bengaluru-based techie turned into a harrowing extortion ordeal, revealing a well-orchestrated criminal racket operating through dating apps. Authorities confirmed that the entire encounter, from the dating app match to the staged panic, was pre-planned. According to a report by NDTV, the man had matched with a woman named Sangeetha on Bumble and spent several weeks exchanging casual texts and video calls. After a month of online interaction, the two decided to meet at a coffee shop in the city. What followed initially felt like a natural progression, Sangeetha suggested they get a room to relax and have a few drinks. (Also Read: Karnataka government reinstates B Dayananda, three others in Chinnaswamy stampede case) However, the situation took a dark turn. As the two were sitting and chatting, four men suddenly barged into the room, accusing the techie of being part of a drug party. Claiming they would call the police, they demanded to search the room. During the confrontation, they pulled out packets of white powder from Sangeetha's bag, alleging it was narcotics. In a dramatic twist, Sangeetha began crying and locked herself in another room, threatening to end her life, claiming she couldn't face the consequences. Fearing arrest and public humiliation, the techie pleaded with the group. They initially demanded ₹15 lakh as a settlement, but after negotiations, he ended up paying ₹2 lakh to be let go. Three days later, the man approached the police, leading to a deeper investigation that uncovered an elaborate date-extortion scam, the report further added. Authorities confirmed that the entire encounter, from the dating app match to the staged panic, was pre-planned. The white powder used to frame the victim turned out to be baking soda, not drugs. Sangeetha was part of the gang, and the meeting was a trap to extort money. As per the publication, police arrested six people in connection with the case: Sharanabasappa, Raju Mane, Shyam Sundar, Abhishek, Birbal, and Sangeetha. (Also Read: Dharmasthala mass burial: SIT visits site where whistleblower claims bodies were buried)
