Bhopal: Cybercrime in Madhya Pradesh has taken a frightening turn—beyond financial frauds, it is now claiming lives. In a shocking incident, a senior advocate from Bhopal died by suicide after receiving a threatening call from cyber criminals who falsely accused him of sending money to suspects involved in the recent Delhi blast.
The victim, 68-year-old Advocate Shivkumar Verma, lived with his wife in Barkhedi, Jahangirabad. His children reside in Pune and Delhi. On Monday evening, while his wife was in Delhi for treatment, she tried calling him several times but received no response. Concerned, she asked a tenant to check on him.
Around 10:30 PM, the tenant found the door locked from inside. When he looked through the window, he saw Verma hanging from the ceiling fan. Police were immediately informed, and the body was sent for post-mortem.
Suicide Note Reveals Shocking Details
Police recovered a suicide note in which the advocate wrote that unknown cyber fraudsters had called him and accused him of using his bank account to transfer money to terrorists involved in the Delhi blast.
“I cannot bear the stigma of being called a traitor,” the note read.
He also asked his children to stay happy and prayed to Lord Bholenath for their well-being. The lawyer mentioned that during the 1984 Bhopal Gas Tragedy, he had performed funerals for hundreds of victims, for which the then Chief Minister had gifted him an ambulance. He also wrote that he had donated blood nearly 50 times to save lives.
Police officials believe the caller was a cyber criminal who attempted a ‘digital arrest’ scam, a method increasingly used to extort money by terrorizing victims through fake allegations.
Similar Fraud Targeted Retired Bank Manager
Just last week, another shocking case emerged. A 67-year-old retired bank manager and his wife were conned of ₹67.5 lakh through the same “digital arrest” technique.
The fraudsters, posing as Bhopal Police officials, accused the couple of links with terrorists involved in the Delhi blast and claimed that ₹7 crore had been transferred to terror accounts—₹70 lakh allegedly from the manager’s account.
The terrified couple was kept under virtual confinement for nearly 24 hours and forced to transfer their life savings to a Chennai-based bank account. Fortunately, after their son contacted the State Cyber Crime Headquarters, officials managed to freeze ₹5 lakh.
A case has since been registered and transferred to the Cyber Crime Branch, Bhopal.