BHOPAL: A viral social-media myth about human testicles being worth crores allegedly turned into a murder conspiracy in Bhopal, with a 20-year-old BBA student telling police he was “inspired” by a reel before assembling a gang to target adolescent boys.After two failed attempts, the group allegedly killed a 16-year-old street vendor and mutilated his body only to discover there was no buyer for what they believed would fetch them crores.The so-called “Rs 6-crore testicle” claim is a social-media hoax that says human testicles are worth millions, particularly in Gulf countries.Police said the alleged mastermind, Zoheb Khan, posed as a medical student and allegedly convinced four others that the body part could fetch Rs 1 crore to Rs 1.5 crore. He was not present when the teenager was killed but allegedly directed the group over a video call.Police said the group first tried to lure a boy with an offer of Rs 100 to help in a fight, but he did not turn up. In the second attempt, another boy fought back and escaped, leading to registration of an attempt-to-murder case.The third attempt ended in murder. On August 6, two minors allegedly approached the victim at Iqbal Maidan and lured him away on the pretext of helping in a fight near Khatlapura.The group later took him towards Dhobi Ghat, where he was allegedly stabbed to death and his testicles removed with a blade.The teenager’s decomposed body was recovered from the Lower Lake near Dhobi Ghat on August 10. Postmortem established fatal injuries and the removal of his testicles.His identity was confirmed five days later through a tattoo after his mother reported him missing.The gang’s supposed business plan then collapsed. Police said the accused had no buyer and did not know how to preserve or sell the tissue.They allegedly kept the body parts for around three days before throwing them in the lake.
