Over 70 Trapped, ₹35 Lakh Lost: Police Crack Down On Jubilee Hills Pub Dating Scams And Violations

Hyderabad: City police have intensified surveillance on pubs in Jubilee Hills amid allegations of dating app traps, exorbitant billing, underage drinking, violations of closing hours and late-night disturbances.

Over 70 pub-goers have reportedly fallen into dating app honey traps and lost over ₹35 lakh in five months.

“Since January this year we have received more than 70 complaints, 33 from the city and the rest from the other commissionerates from men and pub-goers against women who they met dating apps who ran up huge bills and vanished,” a senior police officer said on Saturday.

Special teams, comprising cybercrime and She Teams personnel, were investigating the complaints, he said.

“We have received several complaints regarding exorbitant billing and the serving of alcohol to minors at some pubs.

Action will be taken against pub managements found violating the rules,” the officer said.

A pub-goer Shekar said he was made to pay ₹28,000 at a restaurant where he took a woman he had met on a dating app.

He later lodged a complaint with the police.

The complaints were being examined to establish the circumstances of each incident and determine whether individuals, pub managements or other parties were involved in any unlawful activities, a cybercrime police personnel said.

The Telangana Cyber Security Bureau (TGCSB) and Hyderabad cybercrime police were investigating complaints of alleged fraud involving dating apps and pub meetings.

“The individuals involved will be identified.

Our teams are gathering evidence to establish whether incidents involved deliberate deception, unlawful demands for payment or other offences,” a cyber crime police officer said.

He said police were giving special priority on dating app honey traps.

Police would also focus on some of pubs for violations on operating hours, underage drinking, noise pollution and public nuisance, he said.

More than 33 pubs operate in Jubilee Hills, an area where residents have raised concerns over late-night disturbances, loud music and altercations spilling onto public roads.

Pubs must close by midnight from Sunday to Thursday and by 1 am on Fridays and Saturdays, according to the police statement.

Officials have warned that disturbances affecting residents will not be tolerated.

“I urge the public to report such problems through Dial 112.

We have instructed our staff to respond promptly to complaints involving noise, public nuisance and other violations,” a senior police officer said.