Karnataka elderly couple die by suicide after losing Rs 50 lakh in cyber fraud

In a note left behind, Nazareth, a retired government employee, wrote that no one should be held responsible for the couple’s decision and that they did not wish to live at the mercy of others.

The man named two people in the note—Sumit Birra and Anil Yadav. He alleged that Birra, posing as a telecom department official from New Delhi, informed him that a SIM card had been fraudulently purchased in his name and was being misused for harassment and illegal activities. The call was then transferred to Yadav, who claimed to be from the Crime Branch. Yadav allegedly threatened the elderly man with legal action and demanded details of his property and financial status.

According to the police, the couple, believing the fraudsters, transferred over Rs 50 lakh. However, the scammers continued to demand more, as revealed by digital transaction records.

Bhimashankar Guled, Superintendent of Police, Belagavi, said a case was registered based on the note. “A case of abetment to suicide and cyber fraud has been filed against the two accused named in the note. Further investigation is ongoing,” he said.

The note also mentioned a gold loan of Rs 7.15 lakh, with interest due by June. The man instructed that the loan should be settled and that the gold should be sold to clear the remaining dues. He further wrote that he had borrowed money from friends and requested that these debts be repaid by selling his wife’s gold bangles and earrings.

“Now I am 82 years old and my wife is 79. We have no one to support us,” the note read. “We do not want to live at the mercy of anyone, so we have taken this decision.”

Additionally, he expressed a wish for their bodies to be donated to a medical institution for educational purposes.