'Filmed explicit video at gunpoint': Search for love ends in trap for ex-Army officer in UP

AGRA: What began as a hopeful search for companionship ended in a nightmarish trap for a 59-year-old retired Col from Gurgaon. The former Army officer, who had joined a matrimonial site to find a life partner, was allegedly blackmailed, assaulted and robbed in Mathura by a woman he had met online.

In his complaint to Barsana police on Thursday, the Col said he had been in touch with the woman through the matrimonial platform and had accepted her invitation to meet in person on Jan 11 this year. "We met in Mathura and visited Radha Rani Temple and other local places in Barsana," he said.

After a seemingly pleasant day, things took a dark turn that evening. The woman claimed her brother had met with an accident and requested him to drop her at a nearby bus stop. Trusting her, he agreed. But as he reached the location, she allegedly coaxed him into sitting inside an SUV where a group of men was already present.

"I was held for approximately two hours. At least 11-12 men took me to a deserted spot, beat me, and filmed an explicit video of me at gunpoint. They threatened to release it unless I gave them money. They even contacted my relatives and extorted money from them," the retired Army officer said in his FIR. He also alleged that the group snatched his mobile phone, gold chain, debit card, and around ₹12,000 in cash.

He told TOI: "This was my second attempt to get married. I ended up losing nearly ₹1.95 lakh in all. I had served 17.5 years in the Army — I never imagined something like this could happen to me while just trying to find a partner."

The FIR was lodged at Barsana police station in Mathura on Thursday evening — more than two months after the incident occurred. SHO (Barsana) Rajkamal Singh said, "Based on the complaint of the retired Army officer, an FIR has been registered under IPC sections 115(2) (voluntarily causing hurt), 127(2) (wrongful confinement), 308(2) (extortion), and 351(2) (criminal intimidation). A probe is underway."

Asked about the delay by the retired officer in filing the complaint, the SHO said, "This aspect is also under investigation. At present, the FIR names the woman. Further names will be added based on our findings."