Latest news with #Sangeetha
India.com
20 hours 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.
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)
NDTV
a day ago
- NDTV
Betrayal, Rs 2 Lakh Extortion: Bengaluru Techie's Bumble Date Turns Into Nightmare
Bengaluru: A techie in Bengaluru matched with a woman on Bumble, and the two, after weeks of casual texting and video calls, decided to go on a date after a month. They met at a coffee shop, and everything seemed normal. Later, she suggested they go to a room and have a few drinks, but what happened later turned a good date into a nightmare. Just as they were sitting and talking, four men stormed the room and accused him of being a part of a drug party and threatened to call the police, and demanded searching his room. They pulled out packets of white powder from the woman's bag, claiming it was drugs. The woman, Sangeetha, broke down. She started crying and ran into another room, and threatened to kill herself because she couldn't face the consequences. Now, the techie, fearing arrest, pleaded with the men to let him go. The gang of four initially demanded Rs 15 lakh as settlement, but after negotiations, he paid them Rs 2 lakh. Three days after the nightmarish date, the man complained to the police, and it helped uncover a date-extortion module run by the woman and the men. The entire thing was planned, from the moment the woman matched with the techie to extorting Rs 2 lakh. The woman is a part of the gang, and the white powder was not drugs but baking soda. Police arrested six people in connection with the case: Sharanabasappa, Raju Mane, Shyam Sundar, Abhishek, Birbal, and Sangeetha. Speaking to NDTV, 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. The woman, we have learnt, hails from Uttar Pradesh and was working in a dance bar before this. We are investigating further. We are 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." Authorities suspect that this may not be the gang's only victim and have urged others who may have faced similar traps to come forward.
The Hindu
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Vegetarian meals at just Rs 40: How Chennai's popular Sangeetha is celebrating its 40-year-anniversary
What connects MS Subbalakshmi, KJ Yesudas and a popular Chennai vegetarian eatery? The answer is Sangeetha, one of Chennai's iconic vegetarian brands that has completed 40 years in the food business. With 34 branches in Chennai and 23 abroad currently, Sangeetha has braved competition and inflation to enjoy continued patronage among Chennai's foodies. Known for its hot, crisp masala dosas and meals, Sangeetha's journey started at a small place in Armenian Street, Parry's, where P Suresh set shop. His father, Padmanabha Pothi, had had considerable experience in the restaurant business, having run hotels in Thiruvananthapuram and later in Chennai's West Mambalam (Hotel Suprabath) and Broadway (Hotel Swathi). Suresh's dream was to become a photographer but the hotel business that his father was passionate about kept drawing him. Their 1985 outing at Parry's was named Sangeetha (which means 'music'), as a hat-tip to legendary singers MS Subbulakshmi and KJ Yesudas. 'These singers gave so many people peace of mind with their voices. We wanted to do the same through our food offerings,' says Suresh, who subsequently became closely associated with the founder of Saravana Bhavan, P Rajagopal (known as Annachi), whom he considers one of his gurus. Suresh, whose day today is filled with meetings and inspections at various branches, is a foodie himself. 'I have travelled the length and breadth of Tamil Nadu and eaten in various places. Kathiravan's Hotel in Srivilliputhur is a personal favourite; it serves three types of sambar. I also fondly remember the times eating butter dosas late at night at a small hotel near a provisions market in Salem.' In Chennai, he is a regular visitor to Pondy Bazaar's Shri Balaajee Bhavan for its onion rava dosa and Rayar's Mess for its unique chutney. Fan for life For many Chennaiites, meals during lunchtime is most satisfying. At Chennai's Sangeetha, they are priced only at Rs 40, till July 24. This limited meals, which also includes a special vada and sweet apart from regular lunch offerings, will be on from 11am to 4pm at select outlets on select dates. This has seen a lot of patronage; the Parry's branch saw more than 2,000 walk-ins for this offer on the first day. While the meals might be sought-after this season, there are a few people — like TV personality and actor, Bosskey — for whom this hotel has been an everyday haunt for the past three years. Every day, at 10am and 6pm, you can find him at the RA Puram branch of Sangeetha – sharing a laugh with a group of friends, some of whom he would have made just that day. 'My breakfast is a combination of pongal, dosa, coffee and laughter,' says Bosskey, who is friends with everyone at the branch, from the manager to the support staff. He jokes, 'Thanks to my daily visits to the hotel, I may soon be entitled to an award for my association with Sangeetha, titled ' Nidhi'!.' For people like Bosskey and many other Chennaiites, Sangeetha is more than a hotel. It is an emotion. And that's exactly what the folks running the restaurant intend to be grateful for, as they turn 40. 'This (the Rs 40 offer) is not about making money. It is about celebration. It is about giving back to the people of Chennai who have given us so much love over the years,' says P Suresh, who runs Sangeetha along with his daughter Sanjana Suresh, P Rajagopal and Anirudh Rajagopal. The Rs 40 limited meals offer is on till July 24, at various branches in Chennai.
