Mumbai: First arrest in Kurar suicide case

Raju Bhanwarlal Khadaw was arrested in Rajasthan

The North Region Cyber police of the Mumbai Crime Branch arrested a man from Rajasthan on Sunday in the case of Sandeep Koregaonkar, who died by suicide early this month as he was harassed and digitally shamed by loan recovery agents. The accused has been identified as Raju Bhanwarlal Khadaw, 22, said the police.

Koregaonkar hanged and killed himself after he allegedly did not receive any help from Kurar police, whom he approached with his complaint as he was harassed by loan recovery agents. His brother said they circulated a morphed image of Sandeep among his contacts saying that he had raped and killed a 12-year-old girl. "My brother had not taken any loan, yet he was harassed by recovery agents. Even if he had taken a loan and not repaid it, they should have approached the police to file a complaint against him. But they are criminals who defamed my brother…his image was maligned among relatives, friends and colleagues. He could not tolerate the shaming and committed suicide," said Dattaguru Koregaonkar. The FIR, however, says that Sandeep had taken a loan.

"Now the cops are acting swiftly. Had the Kurar police listened to him and registered an FIR, he would have been alive, but they did nothing. He was the only earning member in our house," he said.

The crime branch formed a team comprising Inspector Mangesh Desai, API Pawar, and three constables to investigate the matter. "After we analysed the IPDR of the number used to call Sandeep, a new mobile number was reflected in front of the IP address. After analysis of its CDR, we managed to get the location of the accused," said a police officer.

The same was discussed with Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Cyber Cell Datta Nalawade and Joint CP (Crime) Suhas Warke. The investigating team then arrested Khadaw from Gajsinghpura in Rajasthan.