IAS aspirant duped on Tinder date at Delhi cafe, faces Rs 1.2 lakh bill shock!

In a shocking incident in East Delhi, an aspiring Indian Administrative Service (IAS) candidate was defrauded out of Rs 1.2 lakh during a Tinder date at a local cafe. The victim, who had connected with a woman named Versha on the dating app, agreed to meet her to celebrate her birthday at the Black Mirror Cafe on Vikas Marg.

Upon their arrival, the duo ordered a modest meal consisting of snacks, two cakes, and four non-alcoholic beverages. Shortly after, Versha made a sudden exit, claiming a family emergency. To the victim’s dismay, when the bill arrived, it amounted to a staggering Rs 1,21,917.70—an exorbitant charge for what should have been a simple outing.

Despite the victim’s protests over the outrageous bill, he was met with threats and intimidation, ultimately coercing him into paying the full amount. The money was transferred online to one of the cafe's owners, Akshay Pahwa. Pahwa, a 32-year-old resident of Shahdara in East Delhi, has a limited educational background, having only completed up to the 10th grade.

Distressed by the ordeal, the victim promptly filed a complaint with the police, leading to the swift arrest of Pahwa. During the investigation, it was revealed that the Black Mirror Cafe is co-owned by Akshay Pahwa, Vansh Pahwa, and Ansh Grover. The cafe employs several individuals known as "table managers," including Aryan, who dropped out of school in the 7th grade.

Further inquiries uncovered that Aryan had been masquerading as Versha, using a one-time view feature to share her photo and lure the victim to the cafe. The entire scenario, including the abrupt family emergency, was a part of a well-orchestrated scam. Each member of the operation had a predetermined cut of the swindled money: 15% went to the person posing as Versha, 45% was split among the table managers and cafe staff, and 40% was taken by the cafe owners.

Such fraudulent activities are becoming increasingly prevalent in major Indian cities like Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru. Earlier this year, a similar case culminated in a life imprisonment sentence for three individuals who were involved in the murder of a businessman they had targeted through Tinder five years ago.

Authorities are urging the public to be cautious when meeting individuals through dating apps and to report any suspicious behavior immediately.