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A tragic case from Sasaram in Bihar has once again highlighted the human cost of cyber fraud and the serious shortcomings in the grievance-redressal system. Arun Kumar Singh, a saree shop owner from Khaira village under the Darigaon police station limits, allegedly consumed poison after falling victim to a ₹42 lakh cyber fraud. His family alleges that despite informing the police and submitting repeated complaints, no prompt or concrete action was taken, pushing him into severe mental distress.
The incident has sent shockwaves through the area, triggering anger among local residents. According to the family, Arun Singh spent nearly two days moving between the police station, cyber cell, and senior offices, but no FIR was registered and his bank account was not frozen in time.
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Loan lure, then lakhs vanish
Family members said Arun Kumar Singh ran a small saree shop in the Karpurwa area. While searching for capital to expand his business, he reportedly came into contact with an entity called “Zenith Finance.” Allegedly, during this process, a bank account was opened in his name at Bandhan Bank, and he was promised a ₹25 lakh loan.
Soon after, he received a call from the bank informing him that ₹42 lakh had been fraudulently withdrawn from his account and that the account was being closed. The information left him stunned. The family claims the fraudsters instructed him to purchase a new mobile phone and, using that device, executed a technical conspiracy—raising loans in his name and siphoning off the entire amount.
From police station to cyber cell—seeking help
After discovering the fraud, Arun Singh first approached the Darigaon police station. The family alleges he was told that the matter involved cybercrime and was directed to file a complaint at the district cyber cell in Dehri.
At the cyber cell, he reportedly received only verbal assurances of an inquiry. Neither was an FIR registered nor was the bank account immediately frozen. A distraught Arun Singh then submitted a written complaint to the Superintendent of Police (SP), Rohtas, but the family claims that no swift action followed even after this step.
‘The system broke him,’ family alleges
Relatives say the combined burden of financial loss and repeated visits to police offices pushed Arun Singh into deep depression. After returning home in the evening, he consumed poison, leading to his death. He is survived by two daughters.
The family maintains that had the complaint been registered in time and the bank account frozen promptly, not only could the money have been saved, but his life might also have been spared.
Police response
Responding to the incident, SDPO-1 Dilip Kumar of Sasaram said the matter is under investigation. He added that no formal application has been received from the family so far, but all aspects of the case are being examined.
The family, however, remains dissatisfied, insisting that action should have come in time—not after a death.
The bigger question: Is the cyber complaint mechanism failing?
The case once again raises serious concerns about how effective the rapid-response system for cyber fraud victims really is on the ground. Experts stress that the first 24–48 hours are critical; if bank accounts are frozen during this window, recovery of funds is often possible.
Ground realities, however, point to poor coordination between police stations, cyber cells, and senior offices, frequently leaving victims more helpless and mentally distressed.
The road ahead
Pressure is now mounting on the local administration to ensure not only a fair probe in this case but also a system where cyber fraud victims are spared repeated trips to police offices.
The tragedy is a stark reminder that cybercrime is not merely an economic offence—when institutions fail to respond with urgency and empathy, it can spiral into a human catastrophe.
