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New Indian Express
17-07-2025
- New Indian Express
BESCOM contract worker dies by suicide after fake CBI officer extorts Rs 11 lakh using ‘digital arrest' threat
BENGALURU: A 48-year-old BESCOM contract employee died by suicide after being repeatedly threatened and extorted of nearly Rs 11 lakh over a fortnight by a person claiming to be a CBI officer. Similar to the 'digital arrest' modus operandi of cyber crooks, the accused extorted the victim by threatening that there was an arrest warrant against him. The victim, K Kumara, was found hanging from a coconut tree at his native Kelegere village of Channapatna taluk on Tuesday. He was staying at HSR Layout in the city with his wife and an eight-year-old son. A suicide note, purportedly written by him mentioned the name and mobile phone number of the accused. However, there was no mention of what charges the fake officer levelled against him. A police officer said the victim received a phone call from a person identifying himself as Vikam Goswamy from the CBI. The accused told Kumara that he had to pay money if he wants to prevent his arrest. 'Kumara initially paid Rs 1.95 lakh. Kumara kept transferring more money, amounting to Rs 11 lakh in total, to the bank accounts of the accused. When the accused demanded that he transfer Rs 2.75 lakh more, Kumara, not knowing what to do, left for his village on Monday, telling his wife that he was going there for some work. He had never discussed the threats with anyone,' said an officer. In the death note, Kumara stated that he was ending his life because of the harassment and also due to ill health. The victim's wife told the police that her husband was heard speaking to someone in Hindi and was had been nervous since the last fortnight. The MK Doddi police have registered a case under Section 108 of the BNS.
Time of India
16-07-2025
- Time of India
Bengaluru man hangs himself after losing Rs 13L to digital arrest fraud
Bengaluru: A 48-year-old contract staffer with Bescom, who fell prey to the digital arrest fraud and lost nearly Rs 13 lakh to cybercriminals, was found hanging from a tree in his village in Ramanagar district Tuesday. K Kumara, a resident of HSR Layout in Bengaluru, has explained in the death note the harassment he faced from the fraudsters, who posed as CBI officials, and repeatedly threatened him with arrest if he failed to pay up. He was found dead near an agricultural land at Kelagere village in Channapatna. He leaves behind his wife Savitramma and an eight-year-old son. According to the note, he received a video call from someone claiming to be a CBI officer named Vikram Goswami. He told him that a case had been registered against Kumara and that an arrest warrant had been issued. A panicked Kumara first transferred Rs 1.9 lakh to an account specified by the caller. Over the next few days, he was forced to transfer additional amounts, totalling around Rs 11 lakh. The extortion continued, with the fraudsters demanding Rs 2.7 lakh more. You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru "My husband was speaking to strangers in Hindi for the past 15 days," Savitramma stated in the complaint. "When I asked him about it, he said there was a case against him. I advised him to speak to his younger brother. On Monday, he left for the village, saying he had some urgent work. The next day, I got a call from family members saying he was found hanging. In his pocket, they found a note explaining everything." Family sources said Kumara borrowed heavily from relatives, friends, and colleagues over the last fortnight, citing a personal emergency. None of them knew he was being targeted by cybercriminals. Srinivas Gowda, superintendent of police, Ramanagar, confirmed that the number used to contact Kumara has been traced to Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. "This is a case of digital arrest. We have registered a case of abetment to suicide against unknown persons. We are examining bank records to map the transactions," he said. (If you are having suicidal thoughts or in need of emotional support, call suicide prevention helplines: Tele-Manas helpline: 14416 or 1800-891-4416, SAHAI Helpline: 080-25497777) —— Box BE AWARE OF ONLINE TRAP Kumara's is the third suicide linked to cybercrime in Karnataka this year. In May, an elderly couple from Khanapur in Belagavi died by suicide after losing over Rs 80 lakh to a similar scam. In that case, police arrested four suspects from Rajasthan, Gujarat, Assam, and Maharashtra, but the kingpin remains at large. As such crimes continue unabated, here are 10 things to know about digital arrest: *Definition: A digital arrest involves fraudsters impersonating govt or law-enforcement officials via video call to pressure victims into transferring money *Initial contact: Victims are approached via sms, email or WhatsApp, falsely accused of offences like money laundering or drug trafficking, and told to call a designated number *Impersonation tactics: Scammers use video calls featuring official uniforms, backdrops and even deepfake methods to appear legitimate *Psychological pressure: They intimidate victims by claiming the victim or their relatives are involved in serious crimes, such as drug-related offences *Continuous surveillance: Victims are often kept on video for hours or days, preventing them from seeking advice or calming down *Extortion method: Under threat of arrest or legal action, scams involve victims transferring large sums to allegedly resolve the fabricated issues *Warning signs: Immediate demands for money, threats of legal action, and unsolicited electronic contact from supposed officials are major red flags *Safety measures: Always verify the caller's identity, remain calm, avoid sharing personal or financial information, and never transfer money under pressure * Reporting steps: Victims should report the scam via the national cybercrime helpline (1930 or and preserve evidence like screenshots and recordings *Govt response: Authorities have ramped up awareness campaigns, blocked several fraudulent accounts WEB OF CRIME Year Cybercrime cases registered in K'taka (2023-May 2025) 2023 22,246 2024 22,453 2025 (May 31) 6,045 Note: While breakup of digital arrest was not available, police say cases are increasing
Indian Express
16-07-2025
- Indian Express
BESCOM employee ends life after losing Rs 11 lakh to digital arrest
A 48-year-old Bengaluru Electricity Supply Company (BESCOM) employee died by suicide Tuesday after allegedly losing Rs 11 lakh to a digital arrest scam on the outskirts of Bengaluru. Kumara K, a resident of HSR Layout in Bengaluru and a native of Kelagere village in Ramanagara district, was married and had an eight-year-old son. He was found dead at the Kelegere village in the Channapatna in the Ramanagara district, and a purported suicide note recovered from his pocket revealed that he was a victim of a cybercrime. According to the probe, it was revealed that two weeks ago, Kumara received a call from someone claiming to be Vikram Goswami of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The caller allegedly threatened that an arrest warrant had been issued against Kumara and demanded money to resolve the matter. While the specific accusations remain unclear, digital arrest scams typically involve false charges of drug smuggling, money laundering, or other serious crimes. Under stress and fearing for his family's safety, Kumara initially transferred Rs 1.95 lakh to the fraudster, who allegedly demanded more money as time went on and continued to pressurise him through continuous surveillance threats and house arrest warnings. Despite paying Rs 11 lakh into bank accounts provided by the fake CBI officer, the fraudster allegedly demanded an additional Rs 2.75 lakh. Kumara's wife told police that for 15 days before his death, he had been speaking in Hindi over the phone, appearing visibly frightened and distressed. On the afternoon of July 14, Kumara left his Bengaluru home, telling his wife only that he was visiting his hometown for some work and never returned. The MK Doddi police in Channapatna Rural Circle registered a case under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Section 108 (abetment of suicide) and initiated a probe. An elderly couple in the Belagavi district of Karnataka recently died by suicide in a similar digital arrest case. On March 27, Diogjeron Nazareth, 83, and his wife, Flaviana Nazareth, 78, were found dead at their house. Diogjeron had left a purported death note, stating that he was trapped by cyber criminals in the disguise of the Mumbai crime branch to extort money. Diogjeron Nazareth allegedly transferred Rs 59.63 lakh to 22 bank accounts across multiple states. The police later arrested Chirag Jeevaraj Bhai Lakkad, a resident of Surat in Gujarat, in connection with the case.
The Hindu
16-07-2025
- The Hindu
Bescom employee ends life over suspected case of digital arrest in Bengaluru
A Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (Bescom) employee ended his life over a suspected case of digital arrest and extortion, in his native Kelagere village, in Channapatna taluk of Ramanagara district in Karnataka, at night on July 14. The death came to light on July 15 morning. The deceased Kumara K., 48, had been living at BTM Layout in Bengaluru for the past 25 years. He had been working with Bescom. He was married, and the couple have an eight-year-old son. He has left behind a hand-written one-page note in which he accused Vikram Goswami, who claimed to be an officer of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), of threatening him and of extortion. Vikram Goswami reportedly called Kumara two weeks ago claiming to be a CBI officer. He claimed that there was an arrest warrant pending against Kumara and demanded ₹1,95,000 to evade arrest. Kumara reportedly paid up. Over a period of two weeks, Kumara claimed to have transferred ₹11 lakh in total to Vikram Goswami. When Vikram Goswami demanded another ₹2.75 lakh, Kumara could not take it any more. Acting on his wife Savitramma's complaint, M. K. Doddi police have registered a case for abetting suicide against Vikram Goswami. Kumara was scared and was talking to a man in broken Hindi for the past 15 days, according to her complaint. A senior police official said leads and the modus operandi indicate a case of digital arrest. (Those who are in distress or having suicidal tendencies can seek help from Arogya Sahayavani Ph: 104)
Time of India
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Kannada Bhavan to be established at Chikkamandya using unspent grant funds
Mandya: In a move that underscores the district's focus on promoting the Kannada language and culture, a Kannada Bhavan will soon be established at Chikkamandya. The project is being undertaken using the unspent funds from the grants provided for the Akhila Bharata Kannada Sahitya Sammelana, which was hosted in Mandya in Dec. The district administration decided to utilise the remaining Rs 2.2 crore from the govt's grant towards constructing a permanent structure that will serve as a cultural and literary centre. Officials selected Chikkamandya after evaluating multiple locations across the district. A 20-guntas of land has been identified and reserved for the project. Deputy commissioner Kumara confirmed the development, stating that the Kannada Bhavan will act as a vibrant centre for literary discussions, cultural programmes, workshops, and community gatherings. He emphasised that this initiative is not only a tribute to the literary festival but also a long-term investment to promote Kannada. The facility is expected to serve as a platform for writers, poets, artists, and local residents to engage in cultural enrichment and preserve Kannada traditions. The decision has been welcomed by the local community and cultural enthusiasts, who see the Kannada Bhavan as a landmark addition to the region. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Get ₹2Cr life cover@ ₹700 p.m. ICICI Pru Life Insurance Plan Get Quote Undo Meera Shivalingaiah, president of Mandya Zilla Kannada Sahithya Parishat, said, "Initially, we recommended Chikkamandya to the DC for the construction of Kannada Bhavan, and now the same place has been finalised by DC Kumara, for which we want to first thank him. It is the best place to have Kannada Bhavan; we have a school connected to a good road and entry. We request the govt to take up the work at the earliest and complete the project," she said. "Apart from this, we have also requested the govt to allocate office space for Kannada Sahithya Parishat so that we can also keep track of the activities and promote Kannada Bhavan further. We have various plans to promote the Kannada language and culture, which we will take up in the days to come. We also want to promote Mudalpaya Yakshagana in Mandya," she stated.
