Authorities in Maharashtra have dismantled an alleged sextortion scheme targeting wealthy individuals through dating applications, following the arrest of a key suspect. Nagpur Police took 35-year-old Aditya Gupta into custody on Wednesday as part of an investigation into what officials described as a sophisticated blackmail operation.

According to investigators, women were recruited with cash incentives to engage affluent men in intimate video calls. These interactions were then covertly recorded, and the victims were subsequently threatened with fabricated legal complaints involving sexual harassment or rape. The extortionists sought large sums of money in exchange for withdrawing these charges.

The scheme came to light when Gupta demanded approximately Rs30 million (around $338,000) from a man named Irfan. Authorities noted that Gupta’s frequent involvement in multiple related cases had already drawn suspicion, prompting closer scrutiny.

Reportedly, Gupta approached various police stations claiming to act as a legal adviser or social activist on behalf of the women. He allegedly pressured law enforcement officials to register the sexual misconduct complaints against the targeted men and used the threat of criminal prosecution to coerce payments.

Police investigations are ongoing to identify other individuals involved in the operation and determine the full extent of the network. The case highlights increasing concerns about the misuse of dating platforms for blackmail and exploitation in the region.