Man goes to meet ‘online bride’, robbed at knifepoint

G Kalicharan (42), from MMDA Colony, Arumbakkam, an engineer at a broadband services firm and a divorcee, had registered with a private matrimonial website to find a suitable girl for his second marriage.

Recently, a profile (name Priya) from Bengaluru expressed interest in him and after exchanging details, she wanted to meet him and asked him to come to Forum Mall in Vadapalani on Tuesday evening. After they spoke for a few hours, she invited him to an apartment in Bajanai Koil street adjacent to SIMS hospital to meet her brothers. Though he hesitated, she convinced him to accompany her. When he entered the house, three men who were waiting inside, threatened him at knifepoint.

Accusing him of stalking girls in the guise of looking for brides, they attacked him and robbed him of two sovereigns’ jewellery, mobile phone and debit cards. Police said they also made him sign a stamped paper and locked him up. 

Kalicharan later escaped and lodged a complaint at Vadapalani police station. During investigation, police found the gang had booked the house online for a day at Rs 2,500 since it was a service apartment. Police have collected CCTV footage from the locality and further probe is on.