A honeytrap gang allegedly run by women is active in South Mumbai, police believe, with multiple extortion cases linked to its operation. In the latest incident, a 46-year-old businessman was trapped with the promise of sexual favours and later extorted of nearly Rs 35,000.
According to police, the complainant, a resident of Jalgaon, frequently travels to Mumbai for work. On September 23, he arrived at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), where he was approached by a woman outside the station. She struck up a conversation and offered sexual services for Rs 500.
After he agreed, she took him by taxi to Girgaon, leading him into a building near Bharat Bhavan Hotel on Pathe Bapurao Road. Inside a first-floor room, another woman was present. The first woman asked the complainant to step inside and undress. But as he pulled out his phone, she suddenly began shouting, accusing him of recording her video.
The woman struck up a conversation and offered sexual services for Rs 500. Representation pic/istock
At that moment, three more women barged in. They forced him to unlock his phone and allegedly transferred Rs 22,000 through a mobile app. They then threatened to shame him publicly, forcing him to hand over another Rs 13,000 in cash from his wallet before letting him go — with a warning to stay silent.
Terrified, the businessman initially kept quiet, but later lodged a complaint at VP Road police station on September 30. Police verified the online transfer and recovered CCTV footage of the accused.
An FIR was registered under Sections 308 (extortion) and 3(5) (common intention) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Three women have since been arrested. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 2) Mohit Garg confirmed the arrests.
“We suspect they may have targeted others using the same modus operandi. Some victims may be afraid to come forward due to fear of social stigma,” an officer said. Police are now probing whether the women are part of a larger extortion racket.
The arrested accused women have been identified as Majita Baby Noor, 35, Rupa Vishwanath Das, 47, and Nasima Jamal Sheikh, 38. Another woman is also involved in the case, and a search is currently underway to trace her, said police.
