HYDERABAD: A software engineer who took instant loans using different mobile phone apps killed himself in Hyderabad after the private financiers allegedly defamed and humiliated him publicly. It was the second such suicide under similar circumstances this week. Rajendranagar police said that P Sunil (28), who lost his job during the lockdown, took loans through different apps, which police said were all illegal operations, to clear older existing loans.
As he failed to get a job and repay the loans, the app-based financiers started to send messages and made telephone calls to everyone in his telephone call list, which they easily got hold of after he downloaded their apps.
Humiliated, Sunil hanged himself in his Kismatpur flat on Wednesday, but police changed the case from suspicious death to abetment of suicide and other charges , including under the Information Technology Act, against the financiers.
A press communique from the DGP’s office said there are at least 60 such loan apps available in the Google Play Store. “These apps run by certain names that are not registered or recognised by the RBI as an NBFC; therefore, their operations are completely unlawful,” said a note. A police investigation found that Sunil had downloaded 35 apps. It is learnt that he had taken loans ranging Rs 2,000 to Rs 5,000, amounting to Rs 2 lakh.
The DGP’s office said three cases of suicides due to harassment caused by money lending apps has been reported in the last one month.