Telangana police uncover sex-trap gang

The Kamareddy police have uncovered an extortion racket involving a gang who allegedly trapped men through dating apps such as Grindr, before threatening and looting them in hotels and isolated locations. The gang is suspected to have targeted at least 50 to 60 victims across multiple districts in the State.

According to an officer from the Kamareddy town police, the modus operandi involved gang members luring men via chat on Grindr, arranging to meet, and then taking them to a secluded room. “Once the victims were undressed, other members of the gang would storm in with video cameras, thrash the men, and threaten to circulate the recordings to family and friends. The victims were then forced to hand over cash or transfer money online,” explained the officer.

In one case, a victim reported losing ₹56,000 through UPI transfers, though police suspect the cash component in several cases was much higher. “Victims in the 11 cases in Kamareddy have collectively lost ₹40 lakh,” added the officer.

The gang is said to comprise five members identified as Zoheb, Shaib, Muzaffar, Sarwar, allegedly the financer who handles all the transactions, and a juvenile.

Police said the accused often seized SIM cards to prevent victims from seeking immediate help, and relied on the belief that most would be too embarrassed to approach law enforcement. “They knew that many would stay silent, fearing exposure,” said an officer involved in the probe.

Investigators from the Kamareddy police believe that the same gang is responsible for similar incidents in Sircilla, Nizamabad, Siddipet, Medchal, and Adilabad.

While most victims stayed quiet, a few eventually came forward, unable to withstand the sustained blackmail and threats. Their complaints helped police trace the gang’s network and piece together the larger operation. Police said efforts are under way to track the gang’s finances, as further arrests are expected.