Cyber fraudster arrested from Surat for suicide of aged Belagavi couple

BELAGAVI: The Belagavi CEN police have arrested a cyber fraudster for abetting the suicide of an aged couple at Christian Galli of Beedi in Khanapur taluk of Belagavi district on March 27. The arrested Chirag Jeevarajbhai Lakkad (30) was picked up from Surat in Gujarat and has since been remanded judicial custody.

Diego Santan Nazareth (83) and his wife Flaviana Nazareth (79) were victims of cyber bullying and three months of digital arrest. Two unidentified men had forced them to transfer Rs 6 lakh to different accounts. The couple had left behind a suicide note based on which the police had registered a case of abetment to suicide.

Chirag had allegedly threatened the aged couple on video calls claiming to be from the CBI. Police Superintendent Bheemashankar Guled had formed a special team under CEN Deputy SP Veeresh Doddamani which tracked Chirag based on his mobile phone number which was linked to his bank account.

Police suspect that Chirag may be part of a bigger network of cyber criminals and are investigating the case further.