Scammed, coerced, blackmailed: UP man dies by suicide after Rs 6-lakh job fraud

A 37-year-old man allegedly died by suicide in Uttar Pradesh’s Meerut district after reportedly enduring prolonged mental distress over an alleged job fraud in which he claimed to have lost around Rs 6 lakh to a man he trusted. Before taking the extreme step, the victim recorded a video message accusing the man of deceiving him with false promises of employment, collecting money from others in his name, and later blackmailing him.

The victim, identified as Manmohan Singh alias Monu, was a resident of Mawana Khurd village in Meerut’s Mawana area. According to police, he was found hanging at his residence on Thursday morning.

After receiving information, local police reached the spot and carried out an inspection, while a forensic team collected evidence. The body was later sent for post-mortem examination.

During the inquiry, investigators recovered a video recorded by Manmohan shortly before his death.

In the recording, he alleged that Kunal Singhaniya, a resident of the Inchauli area, had taken lakhs of rupees from him on the promise of securing a job but failed to either arrange employment or return the money.

In the video, Manmohan said, "I have fallen prey to a huge conspiracy. It is impossible for me to come to terms with that. My life has been ruined. It is all because I trusted someone. I have been depressed for a long time now. But he is out of reach. When I try to contact him, he makes excuses. His name is Kunal Singhaniya. He took money from me promising me a job. He took money from a few more people in my name. He took cash from me. He also deposited some money in my account too, and later made me forward that money to him".

He further alleged that he had been drawn into situations that later became a source of pressure and intimidation.

In the video, Manmohan claimed, "He would often take me to Lucknow, where he made me ask people if some girl could be arranged. I know, he is now going to blame me for spending the money on my personal pleasures".

He also accused the man of coercion and blackmail, adding, "I know he will put the blame on me to calling a woman to the house. He is blackmailing me, torturing me. I don’t know what to do".

The incident triggered protests outside the Mawana police station, where family members and villagers gathered and briefly attempted to block the road. Police intervened and brought the situation under control.

Based on a complaint filed by the victim’s brother, Jagmohan Singh, police registered a case under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) against two named accused and several unidentified persons.

Officials said the matter remains under investigation and efforts are underway to trace the accused and determine the full extent of the alleged fraud.