Sextortion: Pune Man Ends Life Over Blackmail Threats by Cybercriminals
Dighi, 23rd May 2024: A 35-year-old employee of a private firm took his own life on May 15, reportedly succumbing to blackmail threats from unknown individuals who threatened to circulate manipulated images of him on the internet.
The victim’s lifeless body was discovered hanging from a ceiling fan in his residence in Dudulgaon on the same day. Alongside the tragic scene, authorities recovered a suicide note citing blackmail from unidentified men as the driving force behind the victim’s extreme decision.
The victim’s cousin lodged a formal complaint with the Dighi police station (Pimpri Chinchwad police) on Tuesday, prompting an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Senior Inspector Vijay Dhamal of the Dighi police station confirmed that the victim was an employee of a private company. On May 15, when the victim’s family members were absent from their residence, he ended his life by hanging himself.
According to Inspector Dhamal, the suicide note found at the scene revealed that the victim had fallen victim to cybercriminals who had obtained his photograph from his mobile messenger application and manipulated it.
The cybercriminals subsequently initiated contact with the victim, demanding money under the threat of publicizing the manipulated images. Starting with a demand of Rs 2,000, the perpetrators escalated their demands, ultimately requesting Rs 10,000 in online transfers.
Shockingly, the situation escalated further when the cybercriminals demanded a staggering Rs 51 lakh from the victim, threatening to upload the images on the internet if their demands were not met.
Despite intensive searches, the police found no incriminating images on the victim’s cellphone. Additionally, the victim had not shared any details about the harassment with his family or friends.
Inspector Dhamal revealed that the police have initiated legal proceedings against the perpetrators under pertinent sections of the Indian Penal Code and relevant provisions of the Information and Technology Act.
