A 38-year-old woman from Thane died by suicide after learning that multiple cyber fraud cases had been registered against her in several states over the alleged use of her bank account in online fraud. Her family said she had shared the account details with a friend and was unaware of how the account was being used.
Who was the woman and what happened?
The woman was identified as Devika Arumugam Pandaram, a resident of Sairam Society in Dombivli East, Maharashtra.
Officials from the Churu Cyber Cell police station in Rajasthan visited her home on August 8 and served her a notice to appear for questioning in a case registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Information Technology Act.
Police said her Bank of Maharashtra account was being used in an online fraud case.
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Why were multiple cybercrime cases linked to her?
Seeking clarity, Pandaram approached the Cyber Crime Department at the Thane Police Commissionerate.
She was informed that multiple cyber fraud cases had been registered against her across several states, including Haryana, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu.
The cases meant she could be required to travel to different states for questioning.
What did her family say about the bank account?
According to ACP Suhas Hemade of Thane City Police, Pandaram’s family said she had provided her bank account details to a friend from her native place.
Her family also said that she did odd jobs and was not aware of what the friend was doing with her bank account.
Police said they would examine whether she had received any commission from the friend for allowing the account to be used.
An FIR will be registered against the friend if Pandaram’s family files a complaint, according to the report.
What happened after police visited her home?
Pandaram was reportedly worried about the multiple cases and the prospect of travelling to various states for questioning.
At around 4 pm on August 25, the same day police visited her home, she harmed herself with a sharp blade.
Her relatives rushed her to a nearby private hospital. She was subsequently referred to the municipal-run Shastri Nagar Hospital, where doctors declared her dead.
What are mule accounts and why are they used in cyber fraud?
Mule accounts are bank accounts used to move money obtained through fraud.
In some cases, a person provides access to a bank account in exchange for money. However, there are also cases in which the account holder may be unaware that the account is being used for fraudulent transactions.
Police are examining the circumstances in which Pandaram’s account came to be used and whether she received any payment for providing access to it.
About the author — Ayesha Aayat writes on cybercrime, digital safety, and emerging online threats. Her work focuses on public awareness, legal clarity, and technology-driven risks.
