Elderly Karnataka couple dies by suicide after losing Rs 50 lakh to cyber fraud
An elderly couple died by suicide after they were defrauded of Rs 50 lakh by cybercriminals in Karnataka’s Belagavi district. Diyango Najarat (83) ended his life by slitting his throat, while his wife, Playviana Najarat (79), consumed poison. The couple reportedly left behind a suicide note, explaining their despair and fear after being threatened by fraudsters who posed as officials from the Delhi Crime Branch.
According to police sources, the scammers contacted the couple via a video call, falsely accusing them of involvement in a criminal case. The cybercriminals claimed that the couple’s mobile number and ID proof had been compromised and demanded Rs 5 lakh as a settlement fee.
The couple, both retired and formerly employed at the Maharashtra Secretariat, paid the amount. However, the harassment did not end. The fraudsters continued to threaten and extort more money from them, leading to a total loss estimated to be over Rs 50 lakh.
The couple, who neither had any children nor immediate family, did not inform anyone about the threats and extortion.
Initially suspected to be a case of murder, the investigation took a turn when police recovered the couple’s suicide note and examined their mobile phone records. The bodies have been sent to Belagavi BIMS Hospital for post-mortem.
“We have accessed their bank accounts and are still calculating the total amount extorted. This is a serious matter, and a detailed investigation is underway,” said a senior police official from Nandgad.
