Gujarat Police warn against ‘Rent a Garba partner’ ads going viral on Instagram

Ahmedabad: Gujarat Police have issued a public warning against social media advertisements going viral offering “Rent a Garba Partner” services ahead of the upcoming Navratri festival. Police said they are examining such posts, particularly those circulating on Instagram, to determine whether they involve fraud or other malicious intent.

The posts, which started appearing last week, feature photographs of young men and women offering companionship as Garba partners for fees ranging from Rs 500 to Rs 2,000 for two to four hours, while some all-night or extended packages are priced as high as Rs 6,500.

Addressing the media, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Cybercrime Branch) Lavina Sinha said police are investigating the social media posts and checking for possible fraudulent activity or malicious intent.

“Such messages are going viral and trending on various social media platforms, saying that you can get a partner for rent for a certain amount, that you can take them to a venue for Garba, or that you can spend the whole day doing Garba hopping. Many such posts are going viral and have come to our attention through the social media monitoring cell.

“Firstly, it is not necessary that the person at the other end of these posts is someone you know. Many times, such posts are made under the pretext of interaction or chatting, and this could also be used inappropriately. Once chatting takes place or some such communication develops, there could be other risks.

“Secondly, this can potentially become a scam, where even after taking the payment, there is a high possibility that the service for which the payment was made is not provided at all. The payment link itself could also be an attempt to carry out a digital scam or cyber fraud,” she added.

Sinha also urged people to exercise caution when making payments through links shared in such advertisements or opening photo attachments. She warned that such links or attachments could contain embedded fraudulent links capable of compromising messaging applications or bank accounts. People who encounter such fraud should approach their nearest police station, she said.

‘Silver, gold and platinum packages’

Several such advertisements have appeared on social media over the past week, offering different levels of companionship under “silver”, “gold” and “platinum” packages, with additional services offered at higher prices.

Some posts have been shared by small-scale reel creators and influencers with a few thousand followers, while anonymous accounts have also advertised Garba partners in multiple cities across Gujarat.

According to these advertisements, basic packages cost between Rs 500 and Rs 2,000 for male partners and up to Rs 3,000 for female partners. The packages generally offer two hours of companionship and Garba, along with features such as matching outfits, selfies and dance-step tutorials.

Mid-range packages are advertised at Rs 1,000 to Rs 3,000 for male partners and up to Rs 5,000 for female partners. These offers include up to four hours of dancing and making reels, while some advertisements also promise background stories and role-playing as real-life partners.

The most expensive packages are priced at around Rs 5,000 for male partners and up to Rs 6,500 for female partners. These advertisements offer extended or “all-day” Garba sessions, conversations, hand-holding, photos and reels, while some also mention kissing as part of the package. DeshGujarat