Elderly couple dies by suicide after losing ₹50 lakh to cyber fraud in Karnataka

An elderly couple in Karnataka’s Belagavi district took their own lives after being relentlessly harassed and blackmailed by cybercriminals. The victims, 83-year-old Diago Nazarath, a retired railway employee, and his 79-year-old wife, Pavia Nazarath, were residents of Beedi village near Khanapura town.

The case came to light when a member of a women's self-help group visited their home and discovered their deaths. Nandagarh police arrived at the scene and launched an investigation, uncovering a suicide note left by Diago Nazarath, which detailed the mental and financial harassment they had endured.

According to police reports, the couple was targeted by cybercriminals a month ago. The fraudsters, posing as law enforcement officials, falsely accused them of possessing nude photos and videos. Through repeated video calls and threats, the criminals pressured the couple into paying a ransom, warning that the alleged content would be leaked on social media if they failed to comply, as per a report on IANS.