Fri Mar 28 18:45:27 UTC 2025: ## Elderly Couple Dies by Suicide After Being Swindled Out of Life Savings
**Belagavi, Karnataka –** An elderly couple in Belagavi district, Karnataka, tragically ended their lives after falling victim to a sophisticated cyber fraud, police confirmed Friday. Diogjeron Santan Nazareth (82) and his wife Flaviana (79), residents of Beedi village, Khanapur taluk, were found dead Thursday. Flaviana was discovered deceased in their bed, while Diogjeron was found in the underground water tank of their home, having died from a self-inflicted neck wound.
A two-page handwritten suicide note left by Diogjeron revealed the couple’s despair. The note implicated two individuals, Sumit Birra and Anil Yadav, whom Diogjeron accused of defrauding him of over ₹50 lakh (approximately $60,800 USD). Birra, posing as a telecom official, informed Diogjeron of fraudulent SIM card activity, then transferred the call to Yadav, who claimed to be from the Crime Branch.
Yadav allegedly demanded details of the couple’s finances and property, threatening legal action. Driven to desperation by the relentless demands and financial ruin, Diogjeron even took out a gold loan of ₹7.15 lakh to appease the scammers. The note explicitly stated the couple’s decision to end their lives, citing their age and lack of children as reasons for not wanting to rely on others. They also expressed a wish for their bodies to be donated to a medical institution.
Police have registered a case of abetment to suicide and cyber fraud against Birra and Yadav based on the suicide note and digital transaction records. Belagavi Superintendent of Police Bhimashankar Guled stated that a thorough investigation is underway. The police have seized Diogjeron’s mobile phone, the murder weapon, and the suicide note as evidence. The case highlights the devastating consequences of cybercrime and the urgent need for increased public awareness and stronger protection against such scams.
First Piper 