Viral 'rent a Garba partner' ads spark cyber crime probe

A strange post has gone viral on social media just before Navratri begins, sparking widespread discussion. The post, circulating under the name "Rent A Garba Partner," claims that a dance partner for Garba can be hired for a fee.

After several such posts and social media accounts linked to Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Surat surfaced, cyber crime police have begun investigating the matter. Police are trying to find out who is behind these advertisements, and whether the intent is simply to provide partners or whether some kind of fraud is involved.

With only a few days left for Navratri celebrations, during which Garba nights are held across the country, these posts went viral offering paid Garba partners. The posts also mention different packages and their rates under the Garba festival theme.

Some viral posters list packages named "Silver," "Gold" and "Platinum." Some posts quote packages ranging from Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,000 for a Garba partner, while another post lists rates from Rs 3,000 to Rs 6,500. These advertisements claim to offer a partner for anywhere from 2 hours to the whole night. They also mention services such as teaching dance steps, matching outfits, selfies, Instagram reels and photo shoots. Some posts also mention a "forehead kiss," late-night food outings and being dropped home, which has raised questions about the authenticity of these advertisements.

Narendra Mehta, the BJP MLA from the Mira-Bhayandar assembly constituency, has raised questions over this "rent a Garba partner" advertisement. Given the seriousness of the matter, he submitted a written complaint to Police Commissioner Niket Kaushik and demanded strict action against those responsible. In his letter, Mehta sought a thorough investigation into the matter and necessary action. He also personally met Police Commissioner Aniket Kaushik to draw attention to the issue.

Efforts are on to establish who is actually behind these "Garba partner" rental advertisements. The investigation is focused on whether the intent is only to provide partners, or whether a larger conspiracy, fraud or something else is involved. It is claimed that offers of partners are being shown on social media to women and men as well as to boys and girls. Since such advertisements are reaching large numbers of people in this Navratri and Garba season, cyber crime police are investigating the matter.

Police have appealed to people to be cautious about such advertisements. They have warned that people could be trapped through these offers. Such advertisements could lure customers into clicking phishing links, following which there is a risk of financial fraud in the name of online payment. There are also concerns that this route could lead to other kinds of cyber crime. People are therefore advised not to trust such tempting offers on social media immediately, and to verify their authenticity instead. The real story behind these "Rent A Garba Partner" advertisements will become clear only once the investigating agencies complete their inquiry.