Varanasi | A deeply disturbing cybercrime case has emerged from Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, involving a ₹56 lakh investment fraud, obscene video-based blackmailing, and sustained mental harassment that allegedly pushed a homemaker to die by suicide. Police have arrested the main accused Suraj Kumar, while his associate Vishnu Jaiswal is already in judicial custody. A wider investigation into the organised cyber network is underway.
The case is registered under the Cantt police station area of the Fularia locality, where the victim, Nutan Yadav, was allegedly trapped by a gang that lured her with promises of high returns through forex trading, cryptocurrency investments, and real estate schemes. The accused introduced themselves as experienced investment advisors and initially built trust by showing small, fake profits.
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Once confidence was established, the gang systematically induced her to transfer a total of ₹56 lakh into multiple bank accounts. The accused continued to manipulate her with fabricated investment dashboards and false profit screenshots to maintain control and avoid suspicion.
According to the investigation, the situation escalated when Nutan Yadav demanded her money back. The accused then began pressuring and threatening her. During this phase, an obscene video allegedly linked to the victim was created, and she was blackmailed with threats of public circulation unless further money was paid. The gang then demanded an additional ₹11 lakh, pushing her into severe psychological distress.
Unable to bear the continuous harassment, threats, and financial loss, Nutan Yadav died by suicide on April 9, 2026, at her residence. The incident left her family devastated. A complaint filed by her sister Neelam Yadav led to the registration of a case at the Cantt police station, following which the investigation was intensified.
Police findings indicate that the gang was not operating as isolated individuals but as part of a structured cybercrime syndicate. The network reportedly used social media platforms, fake customer support-style calling systems, and fraudulent investment websites to target victims. They would initially offer small returns to build trust and later escalate to large-scale financial fraud.
During the crackdown, police arrested the main accused Suraj Kumar (32) from near Fularia DM Compound. He is originally from Bettiah in Bihar. His associate Vishnu Jaiswal had already been arrested earlier and sent to jail. Investigators are now examining their bank accounts, mobile data, and digital transaction trails to trace the full extent of the racket.
Officials believe the accused may have been involved in similar frauds in multiple states, indicating a wider interstate cyber network. Cybercrime experts have also been roped in to assist with forensic analysis of digital evidence, including communication records and financial transactions.
Authorities have stated that the case is not just a financial fraud but a serious cybercrime involving psychological manipulation and digital exploitation that ultimately led to a tragic loss of life.
Interrogation of Suraj Kumar is currently ongoing, and police have indicated that more arrests are likely in the coming days as efforts continue to dismantle the entire network.
