Farmer dies by suicide over ‘digital arrest’ fraud, police begin probe

Patel’s nephew, Ansh Patel said the victim had been “worried and tense” but did not share the details with his family members. Ansh said, “My uncle had gone to work on his farm and when he returned home suddenly, I was surprised. He called me and told me that the Delhi police were calling him for an investigation… I saw him gathering the passbooks of his bank accounts and heading to another room on the upper floor of his house… I also overheard a conversation referring to Rs 40 crores. Later, we found that my uncle had consumed poison… We rushed him to the hospital, where he breathed his last on Tuesday. We have seen the Whatsapp calls he had received… We want the strictest action against cyber criminals.”

Vadodara District Superintendent of Police Sushil Agrawal on Thursday said that the police had not come across any bank transactions made from the victim’s account and the case was under investigation. Agrawal said, “The victim was working as a guard in a granary. He consumed poison on Monday and had succumbed at a hospital. We have initiated a probe after a case of accidental death was lodged at Dabhoi police station on Tuesday…He had received about six calls from suspicious numbers. We are looking into all aspects ..”