An elderly couple in Khanapur taluk in Karnataka’s Belagavi district, died by suicide after falling victim to cyber fraud and alleged harassment, police said on Friday, March 28. The deceased, Diogjeron Santan Nazareth (82) and his wife Flaviana (79), were residents of Beedi village in Khanapur and had no children.
A two-page handwritten death note left behind by Diogjeron stated their decision to end their lives and requested that no one be blamed, as they did not want to live at the mercy of anyone. The tragedy came to light on March 27 when neighbors found Flaviana lifeless on the bed, while Diogjeron’s body was discovered in the underground water tank of their house.
Diogjeron, a retired Maharashtra government secretariat employee, named two individuals in his death note—Sumit Birra and Anil Yadav. Birra, claiming to be a telecom department official from New Delhi, had informed him that a SIM card was fraudulently purchased in his name and used for harassment and illegal advertisements. The call was later transferred to Yadav, who posed as a Crime Branch official.
Yadav allegedly coerced Diogjeron into revealing his financial details and property information, threatening legal consequences over the supposed SIM card misuse. Under pressure, Diogjeron transferred over Rs 50 lakh to them, but the scammers continued to demand more, according to digital transaction records. He also mentioned taking a gold loan of Rs 7.15 lakh, with interest due on June 4.
The couple, who had no immediate family, did not confide in anyone about the threats and financial extortion.
The bodies have been sent to Belagavi BIMS Hospital for post-mortem. "Based on the death note and preliminary inquiry, we have registered a case of abetment to suicide and cyber fraud against the two accused named in the note. Further investigation is underway," said Belagavi Superintendent of Police Bhimashankar Guled.