Cyber Fraudster Arrested in Rajasthan for Forcing Youth to Take His Own Life; Case Solved After Two Years

KalimNews, Kalimpong, 11 October 2023: In a major breakthrough, the Gorubathan Police have arrested a fraudster who posed as a girl on social media and blackmailed a young man from Gorubathan. The arrest follows a tragic incident two years ago, when 26-year-old Anil Bhujel (also known as Bishal Bhujel) died after consuming poison.

Anil’s death, initially mysterious, was later revealed to be the result of a cyber blackmailing scheme. According to police reports, Anil had befriended a person online who claimed to be a woman named "Gareema Sharma." After chatting for several months, the online relationship took a disturbing turn when "Gareema" invited Anil to continue their conversations on WhatsApp. This is where the fraudster shared explicit videos and insisted that Anil reciprocate by sending intimate videos of himself.

Under pressure, Anil sent some private videos, including some of a personal nature. As soon as "Gareema" received these videos, she immediately threatened to circulate all the compromising content unless Anil paid her money. Desperate and terrified, Anil had no choice but to comply with the demands. Over time, "Gareema" continued to blackmail him, demanding more and more money.

In total, Anil transferred Rs. 20,320 in three separate installments to bank accounts shared by the fraudster. The payments were made to an HDFC bank account in Faridabad. To further instill fear, "Gareema" even sent Anil a demonstration of the list of his Facebook friends, further heightening his anxiety about the potential exposure of the intimate videos.

Feeling trapped and hopeless, Anil could not bear the emotional and psychological pressure. In a final act of desperation, he consumed poison, sending his friends a distressing message and showing them his deteriorating condition. His friends rushed him to North Bengal Medical College and Hospital, but tragically, he passed away shortly after arriving.

The Gorubathan Police, under the leadership of Sub-Inspector (SI) Rejaul Karim, registered a complaint, but the investigation was initially slow and difficult. The case involved technical complexities, and the police had to trace financial transactions, which were delayed by bureaucratic issues in obtaining details from the bank. Despite these setbacks, SI Karim and his team pressed on.

On 8th October 2023, a breakthrough came when "Gareema Sharma" was traced to Dahana village, located in Pahadi Police Station under the Bharatpur (Deeg) district of Rajasthan. The fraudster, who had been operating under the false identity of "Gareema Sharma," was arrested. It was revealed that "Gareema" was actually Abdul Kayyum, a male fraudster who, along with two accomplices, had been running a nationwide blackmailing racket.

Kayyum and his associates targeted multiple victims across several states, including West Bengal, and had been implicated in similar extortion schemes. Their modus operandi involved creating fake online identities, convincing victims to share explicit content, and then extorting money by threatening to release the material. Abdul Kayyum confessed to the crime, stating that no women were involved in the racket; instead, they used videos of women found on the internet. The fraudsters had warrants out for their arrest in at least five states.

The investigation team worked relentlessly, and SI Karim visited Rajasthan twice to apprehend the suspects. The arrest of Abdul Kayyum marks a significant step in dismantling the cyber extortion network that has caused distress to many victims. Kayyum will be produced in the Kalimpong District Court on 12th October 2023, where police will seek his custodial interrogation to further probe the full extent of the racket.

The case, which was initially registered with the Cyber Police in Kalimpong, was later transferred to the Gorubathan Police Station for further investigation. The authorities have confirmed that the case is ongoing, and more arrests may follow.

This heart-wrenching incident highlights the growing dangers of cybercrime, especially online blackmailing. The police have urged the public to remain vigilant when interacting with unknown individuals online and to report any suspicious activity immediately.