HYDERABAD: A 31-year-old constable allegedly died by suicide after loan app operators threatened to circulate morphed photographs of him and his family members. He had reportedly borrowed money through loan applications to fund online betting. The victim has been identified as Mudavath Srinu, who worked as a constable in the 3rd Battalion.
On Monday, he had visited his mother’s residence in Harshaguda village, under Pahadishareef police station limits, on Monday.
Srinu’s mother, Mudavath Gori, told police that her son and his wife had been residing at Mansanpalle X Roads due to their work commitments. They had been visiting the family at Harshaguda frequently over the past six months.
According to the complaint, at 11 am on Monday, Gori was sitting outside her house when Srinu arrived and went inside. Around 11.30 am, her grandson, Veeresh, informed her that some unidentified persons associated with online loan applications had called his aunt Sumithra and his father, threatening them to repay the amount borrowed by Srinu.
Meanwhile, Srinu’s father also tried to contact him over the phone, but he did not respond.
Gori told Veeresh that Srinu might be sleeping in his room and asked him to check. When Veeresh knocked on the door and received no response, the family broke open a window and noticed Srinu hanging from the ceiling fan with a saree.
They immediately entered the room and brought him down with the help of others.
Gori told police that Srinu had borrowed approximately Rs 10 lakh from various online loan applications more than a year ago. The amount was repaid with the help of family members and villagers.
After his marriage, he had again borrowed approximately Rs 10 lakh through online loan applications, which was repaid by his wife’s parents.
After his death, Veeresh checked Srinu’s mobile phone and found that he had again borrowed Rs 40,000 through the Rupee Flow loan application.
Srinu had also received messages from several numbers containing morphed photographs of his aunt, along with threats demanding repayment of the loan amount. Unable to bear the harassment, he allegedly took his life.
According to Srinu’s relatives, loan app operators continued calling his family members after his death, demanding repayment and threatening to circulate the morphed photographs.
Based on Gori’s complaint, Pahadishareef police registered a case and launched an investigation.