The honey trap racket recently busted in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands may have ensnared far more victims than those who have formally approached the police so far, authorities told The Wave Andaman, indicating that several individuals could be staying silent out of fear, shame and social stigma.
Investigators said that although four accused have already been arrested in the Sri Vijaya Puram case, preliminary findings suggest the operation may have been active for some time and may have targeted multiple individuals. Police officials said one of the concerns during the probe is that some potential victims may be government employees or personnel posted to the islands from the mainland who live alone and may hesitate to file complaints due to reputational risks or personal embarrassment. Authorities have appealed to anyone who may have been targeted to come forward, assuring that complaints will be handled confidentially.
The case surfaced after a complaint was lodged with the CID unit detailing how the victim first met one of the accused on the dating application QuackQuack. According to investigators, conversations later shifted to WhatsApp, where familiarity was built before the complainant was persuaded to visit a residence near Dhanikhari junction on February 7 after a rendezvous was fixed.
Police said the victim was allegedly offered a soft drink during the meeting and subsequently lost consciousness. When he regained awareness, he reportedly found himself partially undressed inside the premises, with two women and one man present. Investigators believe compromising photographs and videos were recorded during this period.
The material was later used to threaten the victim with false criminal allegations and public exposure unless money was transferred, police said. Records indicate the complainant was wrongfully confined and coerced into transferring ₹50,000 through UPI.
A notable instance of honey trap crime in India, the 2018 Jaipur Tinder case, saw Priya Seth lure 28-year-old Dushyant Sharma to her rented flat using the Tinder app. Accomplices overpowered him, demanded ransom, and when partial payment was made, ultimately murdered him to prevent exposure. The case illustrates the extreme risks of digital dating-based extortion.
Following verification and investigation, four accused were identified and arrested by the Crime and Economic Offences Wing of the Andaman and Nicobar Police. They have been booked under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and are currently in judicial custody.
Officials said the accused appeared to follow a pattern of initiating contact on dating platforms, shifting communication to private messaging apps, arranging meetings at private residences and then using compromising material to extort money. Police sources added that in some instances victims were allegedly assaulted and forced to hand over ATM cards, from which cash was withdrawn under coercion.
The investigation widened after another complainant reported a similar experience, enabling police to link multiple incidents and identify the suspected network behind the operation. Authorities said forensic examination of seized mobile phones, communication records and financial transactions is ongoing to determine whether more victims were targeted using similar methods.
The Andaman and Nicobar Police has urged citizens to exercise caution while interacting with unknown persons online and to report suspicious approaches or threats at the earliest. Officials reiterated that even delayed complaints can help investigators uncover the full extent of the racket.
The probe is ongoing.
