Pune: A businessman fell victim to a robbery in Dhayari after being lured to an isolated location by an acquaintance he met through a dating app. The accused, Bharat Kisan Dhindale (18), and his three juvenile accomplices robbed the businessman at knifepoint on January 14. The Nanded City Police have since apprehended all four suspects involved in the crime.

The incident occurred around 8 p.m. near a school in the DSK Vishwa area of Dhayari. According to the police, the victim, a businessman, and the accused, Bharat Dhindale, had first connected via a dating app.

Over time, Dhindale gained the businessman’s trust and arranged a meeting near DSK Vishwa Road. When the victim arrived, Dhindale, along with three juvenile accomplices, confronted him with a knife. The group robbed him of his gold earrings, mobile phone, and cash before escaping.

The distressed businessman reported the incident to the Nanded City Police Station. Meanwhile, a message warning of rising robbery incidents along DSK Vishwa Road in Dhayari had been circulating on social media. In response, the police increased patrolling in the area.

During one of these patrols, police officers Purushottam Gunla and Akshay Jadhav spotted Dhindale near the scene of the crime. Acting swiftly, they set up a trap and apprehended him. Upon questioning, Dhindale confessed to the robbery and revealed the involvement of his juvenile accomplices.

The operation was led by Deputy Commissioner of Police Sambhaji Kadam and Assistant Commissioner of Police Bhausaheb Patare. Senior Police Inspector Atul Bhos, along with Sub-Inspector Shivaji Bunge and officers Purushottam Gunla, Yogesh Zhende, Raju Vegare, Prashant Kakde, and Mohan Misal, contributed significantly to solving the case.