An elderly couple in Karnataka’s Belgavi died by suicide after losing Rs 50 lakh to cyber fraudsters. The couple left a suicide note naming the fraudsters who contacted them. Karnataka police have registered a case and further probe is underway.
The elderly couple were identified as Diogjeron Santan Nazareth (82) and his wife Flaviana (79). The couple had no children and were residing at Beed village in Khanapur. Police said neighbours alerted them after they found the couple dead inside the house. According to police, Nazareth was a retired employee of the Maharashtra government.
According to police, Flaviana’s body was found lying lifeless on the bed while Nazareth’s body was found in a water tank underground. Stab injuries were found in Nazareth’s neck, police said. “Nazareth died by stabbing himself in the neck and injuries were also found on his wrist. Flaviana is suspected to have consumed poison,” a police official told PTI. Police are awaiting an autopsy report.
In the two-page suicide note, Nazareth said they decided to end life as they did not want to live at the mercy of anyone. According to police, Nazareth has named two individuals- Sumit Birra and Anil Yadav. Nazareth alleged Birra, who claimed to be a telecom department official from New Delhi, informed him that a SIM card had been fraudulently purchased in his name and was being used for harassment and illegal advertisements. Birra later transferred the call to Yadav, who claimed to be from the Crime Branch, PTI reported.
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Yadav allegedly demanded details regarding Nazareth’s property and finances and warned of legal consequences. Fearing legal action, Nazareth transferred over Rs 50 lakh to them. The couple had also taken a gold loan of Rs 7.15 lakh. Nazareth had also named a few persons to whom loan repayment has to be made. He said his wife’s gold should be sold off to pay the loans. “Now I am 82 years old, and my wife is 79. We have no one to support us. We do not want to live at the mercy of anyone, so we have taken this decision," PTI reported quoting the note.
Belagavi Superintendent of Police Bhimashankar Guled told PTI, “Based on the death note and preliminary inquiry, we have registered a case of abetment to suicide and cyber fraud against the two accused named in the note. Further investigation is underway.”
