Hyderabad man lures woman on dating app, robs her of gold worth Rs 2 lakh

VIJAYAWADA: A 23-year-old youngster from Hyderabad, Kilari Nagateja, was arrested by Machavaram police of NTR district for allegedly robbing a woman he met through a dating app. The accused, a native of Bapatla district, was living in Hyderabad's Pragathi Nagar area for the past two decades along with his parents, who work as cooks.
According to police, the victim, a woman from Konaseema district, came to Vijayawada for employment and was staying at a hostel in Veterinary Colony. About two months ago, she came in contact with a man named "Chowdary" through a dating app. Introducing himself as a businessman from Visakhapatnam, Nagateja maintained contact with her through social media platforms for several days.
On Monday, Nagateja called the woman and asked her to meet him at a hotel the next day. On Tuesday, when they met at the hotel, he attempted to force himself on her. When she resisted, he pulled out a knife from his pocket, threatened her, tied her hands, and forcibly took away her gold chain and rings. After committing the crime, he fled the scene. The victim managed to escape and approached Machavaram police station and lodged a complaint the same afternoon.
Machavaram Inspector Ch Prakash and his team formed special squads to investigate the case. They inspected the crime scene, collected evidence, and closely monitored the suspect's movements. Based on specific information gathered during the investigation, police traced Nagateja to Pragathi Nagar in Hyderabad. On Friday, Machavaram Inspector Prakash and his team nabbed him and recovered approximately 20 grams of gold jewellery worth around Rs 2 lakh from his possession.
Further investigation revealed that Nagateja had a history of similar offences. While pursuing his B.Tech studies, he developed bad habits and turned to crime to make quick money. Using social media platforms and various dating apps, he would befriend young women, gain their trust, lure them to hotels, and then rob them at knifepoint.
Police records showed that since 2023, Nagateja committed similar crimes in the LB Nagar, Chaitanyapuri, and Moinabad police station limits in Hyderabad. He was arrested and served time at Charlapalli Jail. After being released as recently as February, he resumed his criminal activities, this time targeting a woman in Vijayawada after realising he was easily recognised in Hyderabad.
The police have urged the public to be cautious while interacting with unknown individuals online and assured strict action against such offenders. Further investigations are underway to ascertain if Nagateja is involved in more cases.