Delhi man arrested for extortion of 700 women via dating apps

Tushar Bisht, a 23-year-old from Delhi, led a double life: by day, he worked as a technical recruiter; by night, he posed as a US-based model to exploit women online. Hailing from a middle-class family — his father a driver, mother a homemaker and sister employed — none in his family suspected he had become a criminal.

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Bisht used his fake identity as a glamorous model to target over 700 women, primarily through dating apps. He befriended them, built their trust and convinced them to share private photographs and videos. Once in possession of these intimate materials, he blackmailed his victims, extorting money from them under threat of releasing their private images.

The scam, which began as a form of online flirtation, spiralled into full-blown sextortion. His crimes went unnoticed until a second-year Delhi University student reported the matter to the police. The woman, who had met Bisht on Bumble in early January 2024, initially believed she was chatting with a US-based freelancer model visiting India. Over time, she shared personal photos and videos with him via Snapchat and WhatsApp.

However, when she asked to meet in person, Bisht repeatedly made excuses. Eventually, he sent her a private video she had shared with him, threatening to release it online unless she paid him. Desperate and pressured, the victim, a student, made a small payment. Despite this, the threats continued. Traumatised, she eventually confided in her family, who then approached the police.

On December 13, the police registered a case following the woman's complaint. DCP (West) Vichitra Veer said a technical investigation led to Bisht’s identification. He was arrested after a raid at his Shakarpur residence.

Bisht’s interrogation revealed he had been using a virtual international mobile number, obtained via an app, for the last two years. He used this number to register on several platforms, including Bumble and Snapchat. His profile picture was of a Brazilian model and he also posted pictures and stories to make his online persona appear authentic.

Bisht’s modus operandi was to send friend requests to women aged 18 to 30. If they accepted, he would build a rapport and ask for nude photos and videos. Many women complied, unaware of his intentions. Once he received the private content, he recorded and saved it for later blackmail.

Initially, Bisht began his online activities for amusement; however, it soon turned into a pattern of extortion. He admitted to having collected intimate material from hundreds of women, using it to extort money from several victims.

The arrest of Tushar Bisht brings to light the growing threat of sextortion and online exploitation, with the police urging social media users to be cautious about sharing private content online.