LONDON: A 27-year-old Indian man has been exposed by a UK vigilante group for allegedly attempting to groom a 14-year-old girl, sparking outrage and raising fresh concerns about online child safety.
Pravna Bhatt, a former student at the University of Leeds, was confronted by self-described “British patriots” at a pre-arranged meeting spot. A viral video shows Bhatt breaking down, crying, and pleading for a final chance as he is questioned about his explicit online conversations with someone he believed to be a minor.
Bhatt admitted that despite knowing he was committing a felony, he continued sending inappropriate texts to the girl. He allegedly asked her to “sneak” him into her room to “make love” and also sent her a video of himself masturbating.
Pravna Bhatt, 27, from India, currently living in Stoke-on-Trent, attempted to sexually abuse a 14-year-old British girl, caught by British patriots.
— Shunya (@Shunyaa00) June 2, 2026
He said, “It’s my first time, please forgive me, I will never do this again.”
He told the girl, “Please send some money, I want… pic.twitter.com/L55PBJdXGL
When confronted, Bhatt confessed to sending sexually explicit messages even after learning the girl was only 14 years old. In one particularly damning exchange, he allegedly wrote, “I will go to jail,” accompanied by laughing emojis—acknowledging the illegality of his actions while proceeding regardless.
In the video, Bhatt said he moved to the UK three years ago on a student visa and is currently residing in the country on a post-study work visa after completing his education at the University of Leeds. As the vigilantes pressed him, he repeatedly begged, “Give me last chance,” and pleaded with them not to call the police.
The group, however, stated that they had already gathered evidence and intended to hand it over to law enforcement authorities. It remains unclear whether Bhatt was communicating with an actual child or a decoy profile—a common tactic used by vigilante groups and police in online grooming stings.
