Gujarat Police arrest Facebook honey-trap suspect, ₹24 lakh extorted
Synopsis
A Gujarat man allegedly honey-trapped a senior citizen on Facebook, extorted ₹24 lakh over multiple instalments, and was caught hiding under a bridge in Ahmedabad with ₹1 lakh in fresh extortion money. Two accomplices remain at large, and the case is a sharp reminder of the rising threat of social-media-enabled financial fraud targeting older victims.
Key Takeaways
Alpesh Solanki , 39, of Botad district , was arrested on 7 October 2026 by Ahmedabad Police's LCB Zone-7 .
The gang allegedly honey-trapped a senior citizen via Facebook and extorted ₹24 lakh in instalments by threatening false cases.
Solanki was caught near Karnavati Bridge with ₹1 lakh in cash from the latest extortion attempt.
The gang had allegedly demanded an additional ₹7 lakh before the victim alerted the police.
Accused Kishan alias Kanu Parmar and Lalo remain at large; police are actively tracing them.
Seized property totalling ₹1.05 lakh includes cash, a black bag, and a mobile phone.
Ahmedabad Police's Local Crime Branch (LCB) arrested a 39-year-old man on 7 October 2026 for allegedly honey-trapping a senior citizen through Facebook and extorting ₹24 lakh from him in instalments by threatening to file false cases against him and his son. The suspect was caught red-handed with ₹1 lakh in cash allegedly collected during the gang's latest extortion attempt.
How the Arrest Unfolded
The case came to light on the night of 5 October, when the Anandnagar Police Station received a control-room alert stating that a gang had blackmailed an older man and his son and taken ₹1 lakh from them in a black bag. A man described as wearing black trousers and a white checked shirt was reported to have fled from Pakwan Char Rasta with the money.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone-7) Shivam Verma immediately ordered a special action plan and naka-bandi across the area. Teams from LCB Zone-7, led by Police Sub-Inspector H.D. Vaghela, conducted intensive patrolling and vehicle checks along SG Highway. Based on specific input, officers located the suspect hiding under the Karnavati Bridge with a black bag and apprehended him on the spot.
Identity of the Accused and the Modus Operandi
The arrested man was identified as Alpesh Solanki, a resident of Thikvadi village in Botad district. According to police, Solanki and his associates allegedly contacted the complainant through Facebook, honey-trapped him, and then threatened to register false cases against him. The gang is accused of collecting ₹24 lakh from the victim in instalments as part of a planned conspiracy. During the latest episode, they allegedly demanded an additional ₹7 lakh — at which point the complainant grew suspicious and approached the police.
Two Accused Still at Large
Two other alleged members of the gang are yet to be arrested. They have been identified as Kishan alias Kanu Parmar, a resident of Morarinagar-1 on Targhada Road in Botad, and Lalo, a resident of Panadara village in Kadi taluka of Mehsana district. Police said efforts to trace them are underway.
Seized Property and Police Advisory
Officers seized two bundles of ₹500 notes totalling ₹1 lakh, a black bag, and a mobile phone valued at ₹5,000. The total value of the seized property was put at ₹1.05 lakh. Police urged citizens to exercise caution before accepting friend requests from unknown persons on social media and to avoid communicating personal or financial details with strangers online. Anyone facing blackmail or extortion of this nature was advised to approach the nearest police station immediately.
This comes amid a broader pattern of social media-driven extortion cases reported across Gujarat and other Indian states, where fraudsters exploit platforms such as Facebook to identify and financially trap vulnerable individuals. With two accused still at large, investigators are expected to pursue leads from Solanki's mobile phone.
Point of View
Multi-instalment conspiracy that preyed on a victim's vulnerability over an extended period. What this case underscores is a growing gap between the scale of social-media-enabled financial fraud and the pace at which victims come forward, often delayed by fear of embarrassment. The Ahmedabad arrest is a law-enforcement win, but with two accomplices still free and a recovered amount of just ₹1 lakh against ₹24 lakh extracted, the question of recovery and accountability remains wide open. Gujarat Police's advisory to the public, while appropriate, also hints at the reactive nature of current prevention frameworks against a rapidly scaling threat.
NationPress
7 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was arrested in the Ahmedabad Facebook honey-trap extortion case?
Alpesh Solanki, a 39-year-old resident of Thikvadi village in Botad district, was arrested by the Local Crime Branch (LCB) of Ahmedabad Police on 7 October 2026. He was apprehended near Karnavati Bridge while allegedly carrying ₹1 lakh collected during the gang's latest extortion attempt.
How much money was extorted from the victim?
According to police, the gang allegedly extorted ₹24 lakh from the complainant in instalments over time. During their most recent attempt, they reportedly demanded a further ₹7 lakh, prompting the victim to alert the authorities.
How did the honey-trap extortion scheme work?
The gang allegedly contacted the victim through Facebook, honey-trapped him, and then threatened to register false cases against him and his son unless he paid. The victim was reportedly made to hand over money in multiple instalments as part of a planned conspiracy.
Are there other accused in the case?
Yes. Two other alleged members of the gang — Kishan alias Kanu Parmar of Morarinagar-1, Botad, and Lalo of Panadara village in Kadi taluka, Mehsana district — remain at large. Police have said efforts to trace them are underway.
What has Gujarat Police advised citizens about social media safety?
Police have urged people to be cautious before accepting friend requests from unknown persons on social media and to avoid sharing personal or financial details with strangers online. Anyone facing blackmail or extortion has been advised to approach the nearest police station immediately.
