Ahmedabad, June 19(OT Webdesk): Social media influencer Kirti Patel, who boasts over 1.3 million Instagram followers, has been arrested after being on the run for nearly 10 months.
Patel is accused of honeytrapping a Surat-based builder and attempting to extort crores of rupees.
The complaint, filed in June 2024, triggered a months-long manhunt. Surat police revealed Patel evaded capture by frequently changing locations and using multiple SIM cards to mask her digital footprint.
“Her location kept changing constantly across Gujarat,” confirmed Deputy Commissioner of Police Alok Kumar.
The arrest was made in the Sarkhej area of Ahmedabad during a joint operation between Surat and Ahmedabad police, with support from cyber experts and Instagram.
Four co-accused were earlier taken into custody. Patel is also reportedly linked to other cases involving land grabbing and financial extortion. Authorities plan to record her statement as part of these ongoing investigations.
DCP Kumar urged citizens facing similar threats to reach out directly to local police or ACP/DCP offices, reinforcing zero tolerance for digital-era crime.
