In a tragic incident highlighting the dangers of online fraud, a 17-year-old college student from Mumbai died by suicide nearly a year ago, with a preliminary police investigation revealing he was likely under severe stress after being cyberscammed. The Government Railway Police (GRP) in Andheri has now registered a case of abetment against three individuals who received the money defrauded from the teenager.
The Tragic Incident and Initial Probe
The incident occurred on the evening of January 21, 2025. The young victim, a resident of Jogeshwari, was struck by a train on platform 4 of Jogeshwari station around 8:10 PM and succumbed to his injuries. The motorman of the train stated in his testimony to the police that he saw the boy deliberately jump in front of the moving train. No suicide note was discovered at the scene.
Puzzled by the drastic step, the boy's family, who had no prior indication of his distress, requested a thorough investigation. The GRP began probing by speaking to his friends and family and examining his personal belongings. A technical analysis of his phone and other gadgets provided the crucial breakthrough.
Unraveling the Online Task Scam
The digital trail showed that since December 2024, the teenager was in communication with unknown persons on the Telegram messaging app. He was lured with an offer to earn commission by giving online ratings to various establishments. After he started completing these small tasks, he was persuaded to invest money to earn higher returns.
Between December 31, 2024, and January 21, 2025, the boy made five online payments totaling Rs 49,000 via UPI to the fraudsters. Investigators noted that two of these payments were made on the very day he ended his life. Police suspect the teenager may have realized he was being cheated, leading to immense psychological stress that pushed him to take the extreme step.
Legal Action and a Disturbing Pattern
Based on these findings from the preliminary probe, the Andheri GRP registered a First Information Report (FIR) on Sunday against the beneficiaries of the UPI transactions for abetment to suicide. Police teams are currently working to trace and apprehend the accused.
This case marks the second such tragic incident in the region this year where a young life was lost due to stress induced by cyber fraud. In a similar case, the Kurla GRP had registered an abetment case against four people in October following the suicide of 20-year-old collegian Vivek T. on July 15. Vivek was deceived into investing in a fraudulent cryptocurrency app, losing a significant amount of money. After his death, his father revealed that the scammers were harassing Vivek for a payment of Rs 4 lakh.
If you or someone you know is experiencing emotional distress, please reach out for help. You can contact the MPower Mental Health Helpline at 1800-120-820050 or the Ankahee Foundation's helpline at 86-554 86-966.
