Engineering student dies by suicide in Bengaluru; family says he had borrowed from loan apps, was harassed

The incident came to light around 7 pm on Tuesday when Thejas’s father Gopinath Nair returned home after dropping his daughter at a nearby tuition centre. Gopinath rushed Thejas to a hospital but he was declared dead on arrival.

Based on Gopinath’s complaint, the Jalahalli police have registered a case of unnatural death. The police have initiated a preliminary probe to ascertain the extent of Thejas’s borrowing activities, repayment details and other information. His mobile phone will be sent to the cybercrime department for further investigation, police officials said.

According to the police, Thejas left behind a note explaining that his decision was driven by his inability to repay the loans. “I am sorry mom and dad for whatever I did. I have no other choice than this. I am unable to pay other loans that are there in my name and this is my final decision. Good Bye,” he said in his note.

Speaking to the media, Gopinath said his family was ignorant about the loans until a relative brought it to his attention when Thejas sought money. Gopinath said he confronted his son and only then did he discover what his son had been facing.

Gopinath said that Thejas had borrowed the loan for the first time to give it to a friend who had assured him he would pay the EMI but later did not.

“After Thejas did not pay up, some miscreants created morphed images of Thejas and started to share them with his friends and relatives. He paid Rs 4,000 and I told him to focus on his studies but he gave up his life,” Gopinath said.