A 20-year-old resident of Bandra allegedly went through a terrifying experience after meeting a man he had connected with on the dating app “Walla.” As per the details shared by police officials, the victim had been speaking with the accused online for several days before agreeing to meet in person on May 5. What began as a casual meetup reportedly turned into a two-hour nightmare involving assault, robbery and forced digital payments across different parts of Mumbai, reported Mid Day. Acting swiftly after the complaint was lodged, Bandra police tracked down and arrested two accused within hours. The case has once again raised concerns over safety risks linked to online dating interactions.
Dating App Meeting
Police said the victim first came in contact with one of the accused, identified as Mohammad Rizwan Mohammad Imran Sheikh, through the dating app “Walla.” After exchanging messages for a few days, both decided to meet near Bandra Talao at around 6 pm on May 5. Investigators revealed that Rizwan arrived at the location riding a black Suzuki Burgman scooter. The victim then accompanied him on the vehicle as they travelled through several locations in Bandra and nearby areas. Initially, the meeting appeared normal, and the victim reportedly did not suspect that he was being lured into a planned robbery and extortion scheme by the accused, reported Midday.
Ride Across Mumbai
According to the police investigation, Rizwan allegedly drove the victim through SV Road, Khar and towards Carter Road after picking him up from Bandra Talao. Near the Jari Mari Mata Temple, another accused, Mohammad Ali Mohammad Shafiq Qureshi, allegedly joined them. The trio then continued roaming around Bandstand and Carter Road on the scooter for some time. Officers stated that the accused gradually changed their behaviour during the ride. What seemed like a friendly outing allegedly became threatening as they reached an isolated spot near a dog park at Carter Road. Police believe the movement across multiple locations was part of an attempt to intimidate and control the victim.
Assault And Extortion
Police officials stated that the accused allegedly became aggressive near the Carter Road dog park and started verbally abusing the victim. During the confrontation, they allegedly snatched his mobile phone and demanded access to his PhonePe account. Investigators said the victim was pressured into revealing his password and was assaulted when he initially resisted. The accused later allegedly took him to the Dockyard Road area, where they forced him to transfer Rs 18,000 using a QR code at a mobile accessories shop. “When the victim refused to share the password, he was assaulted again,” a police officer said. After obtaining the money, the accused reportedly returned the phone and escaped.
Crucial Scooter Clue
Before approaching the police, the victim managed to remember and note down the scooter registration number, MH-02-GM-1363, which later proved critical in solving the case quickly. Using CCTV footage, technical surveillance and vehicle registration records, Bandra police traced the movements of the accused and located them within hours. Officials stated that both accused were detained from Juhu Beach within nearly three hours of the FIR being filed. “The vehicle details played a crucial role in tracing the accused quickly,” an officer said. Police added that rapid coordination and technical analysis helped officers crack the case in a short span and prevent the accused from fleeing.
Police Operation Details
The operation was conducted under the supervision of Senior Police Inspector Ravindra Salunkhe and Deputy Commissioner of Police Dikshit Gedam. The investigation team included PI Ajay Lingnurkar, API Vijay Achrekar and PSI Suraj Irkate, along with constables Atish Patil, Nikhilesh Sable, Ravi Gaikwad, Rahul Pawar and Swapnil Kakde. Police confirmed that the arrested accused are Mohammad Rizwan Mohammad Imran Sheikh, 19, a resident of Dongri, and Mohammad Ali Mohammad Shafiq Qureshi, 22, from Behrampada in Bandra East. Officials are continuing further investigation to determine whether the accused were involved in similar crimes targeting people through dating applications across the city.