Loan app harassment drives Hyderabad resident to suicide
HYDERABAD: A 36 year old man died by suicide in Ramnagar after alleged harassment by loan app agents who threatened to circulate morphed nude photographs to his relatives if he failed to repay a small loan.
The victim, Prem Kumar, a native of Maharashtra, had been living in Ramnagar in Hyderabad with his wife Nagamani for some time. He supplied materials to canteens, while Nagamani worked at a hospital canteen at RTC Cross Roads.
Threats after missed EMI
Prem Kumar had taken a personal loan through a mobile application. Due to financial difficulties, he failed to pay one monthly instalment. Recently, the couple visited Medaram for the jatara.
While returning, loan app agents allegedly called Prem Kumar and demanded repayment, threatening to morph his photographs and circulate them among his relatives if he failed to pay. They sent him nude photographs and videos through WhatsApp, leaving him shocked.
He reportedly pleaded with the agents, saying the pending amount was only ₹3,000 and sought some time to pay.
Calls from multiple numbers
Despite his requests, the agents allegedly continued to harass him, setting repeated deadlines of 10 minutes, 30 minutes and one hour. They warned that the images and videos would be sent to all contacts on his phone if payment was not made.
Prem Kumar informed his wife about the threats. Nagamani reportedly advised him not to pay, saying such blackmail would not stop, and suggested approaching the police. Relatives also tried to reassure him.
However, the agents continued to call from multiple new numbers, intensifying the pressure. Fearing damage to his reputation, Prem Kumar reportedly slipped into severe mental distress.
On Tuesday night, he died by suicide by hanging from a ceiling fan at home.
Nagamani returned from duty around 8.30 pm and alerted the police after repeated knocks went unanswered. Police broke open the windows and entered the house, finding Prem Kumar hanging in a room. The body was shifted to Gandhi Hospital for post-mortem.
Circle Inspector Mallesham said Prem Kumar’s phone had been sent for forensic examination. Details about the loan app and the numbers used for the threats would emerge during the inquiry.
