Thane: A 38-year-old woman allegedly died by suicide at her residence in Maharashtra’s Thane district after learning that her bank account had been linked to multiple cyber fraud cases registered across the country, police said. The incident has highlighted the severe psychological pressure that can arise when legitimate bank accounts are allegedly misused by cyber fraud networks.
The deceased was identified as Devika Armugam Pandaram, a resident of Sairam Society in Dombivli East. According to police, the woman came under stress after receiving a notice from Rajasthan Police in connection with an online fraud case in which her Bank of Maharashtra account was allegedly used.
Officials from the Churu Cyber Cell police station in Rajasthan visited Pandaram’s residence on August 8 and served her a notice directing her to appear for questioning. The case was registered under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Information Technology Act.
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Seeking clarification about the allegations, Pandaram subsequently approached the Cyber Crime Department at the Thane Police Commissionerate. Police said officials there informed her that her bank account had allegedly surfaced in several cyber fraud cases registered in different parts of the country.
The cases were reportedly linked to Haryana, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu. The information appears to have caused considerable anxiety, particularly over the prospect of having to travel to multiple states and appear before different police authorities for questioning.
According to her relatives, Pandaram became panic-stricken over the situation. At around 4 pm on Tuesday, she allegedly injured herself with a sharp blade at her residence.
Her relatives rushed her to a nearby private hospital for treatment. She was subsequently referred to the civic-run Shastri Nagar Hospital, where doctors declared her dead on arrival, police said.
The police have registered an accidental death case and begun an investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death. Investigators are also expected to examine how her bank account became linked to the cyber fraud cases and whether the account was used without her knowledge or involvement.
The incident also draws attention to a growing challenge in cybercrime investigations: the alleged misuse of bank accounts belonging to people who may not be directly involved in fraud. Cybercriminals often seek access to accounts or banking credentials and use them to receive, move or withdraw money obtained from victims. Such accounts can subsequently appear in complaints and police investigations, potentially exposing account holders to scrutiny.
For people who discover that their bank account or identity has been connected to an online fraud, legal and investigative channels are available to establish the facts. They can immediately inform their bank, preserve transaction records and communications, and approach the concerned cybercrime police unit to provide clarification and evidence.
The case remains under investigation, and the exact circumstances in which Pandaram’s bank account was allegedly used in the reported cyber fraud cases are yet to be established.
About the author — Ananya Aradhya writes on cybercrime, fraud, scams, cybersecurity, digital safety, and emerging threats. Her work also covers major criminal cases, financial frauds, consumer scams, and stories that highlight risks affecting people in the real and digital world.
