Mid-Day Impact | Dating app scam: Cops file 1st FIR

In the wake of mid-day's exposé of the dating app scam, the Amboli police on Saturday registered an FIR against unknown individuals for defrauding a 34-year-old IT professional, Pratik Jadhav, allegedly in collusion with the Godfather Club & Lounge in Andheri West.

According to the FIR, Jadhav and Manisha, a woman he had matched with on Tinder, on the evening of August 10 visited the Godfather Club, where the staff allegedly inflated their bill to Rs 55,000. Jadhav, a Belapur resident, stated in his FIR that he had created a Tinder profile four years ago but hadn't used it. In August, he reactivated his profile as he was seeking to get married.

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Pratik Jadhav, who was allegedly lured by a woman he met on Tinder (right) Deepika Narayan Bharadwaj, men's rights activist and filmmaker

On August 10, Jadhav swiped the profile of ‘Manisha, 25,' and they began chatting. Jadhav alleged that Manisha asked him to meet at Crystal Paradise in Andheri West at 5.30 pm that very day and when he arrived at the spot, she suggested that they visit the Godfather Club as it was recommended by her cousin. After they entered the establishment, Manisha, who claimed to be from UP, allegedly ordered various items including chicken chilli, corn starters, two pints of Budweiser beer, 60 ml of Antiquity whisky and cans of Red Bull. During their time together, Manisha mentioned it was her first time drinking.

After an hour, a waiter allegedly informed Jadhav that he had ordered items worth Rs 45,000, but when the bill was presented, it was R55,000. Manisha then asked him to pay up and promised to look into the matter later. After leaving the club, they took an auto to DN Nagar Metro Station, but when Jadhav called Manisha the next day, she allegedly denied knowing him and told him not to call again.

Manisha, who also went by the names Anushkaa and Anaishaa

Jadhav stated in his FIR that in the auto Manisha appeared sober. According to Jadhav, when he checked the dating app later, he found that Manisha's profile and chat history had been deleted. He also discovered similar complaints online. After reading mid-day's reports on the racket last week, Jadhav approached the Amboli police along with another victim, who was allegedly duped of Rs 73,000, to file an FIR.

Complainant Speak

Jadhav told mid-day he wished the police had added the criminal conspiracy section to the FIR. "The police only included bailable sections, which weakens the case. I demand justice and that both the club managers and woman be arrested." Additional Commissioner of Police Paramjit Singh Dahiya confirmed the development, saying that the investigation had been launched.

Meanwhile, on Sunday, five other alleged victims approached the Amboli police, seeking to register FIRs against the club and the women who allegedly defrauded them to the tune of Rs 6.5 lakh collectively. Advocate Akhilesh Shukla said it depended on the investigating officers to uncover the names of those involved in the alleged racket and various Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and IT Act sections could be added later on.

Activist reacts

Deepika Narayan Bharadwaj, men's rights activist and filmmaker, said, "I am disappointed that it took the Mumbai police so long to even register a case. Also, the sections invoked are not strong enough to deter these habitual criminals. In Hyderabad, the police immediately lodged an FIR and arrested many scamsters. But the Mumbai police aren't taking strong action even though hundreds have been scammed by the Godfather Club. I request everyone who has been scammed to write to the commissioner of police and request an investigation."