Madhya Pradesh: 68-Year-Old Senior Advocate Dies by Suicide After Cyber Fraudsters Threaten to Frame Him in Terror Case

A 68-year-old senior advocate from Madhya Pradesh died by suicide after being allegedly targeted by cyber fraudsters who threatened to implicate him in a fake terror funding case, police said on Tuesday.

The deceased, Shivkumar Verma, a long-time resident of Bhopal’s Jahangirabad, was found hanging in his room on Monday night. Police recovered a suicide note in which he wrote that he feared being falsely branded a “traitor” after someone allegedly opened a fake HDFC Bank account in his name to link him to terrorist Asif involved in the Pahalgam attack.

In his note, Verma wrote:
“I am committing suicide of my own free will. Because someone opened a fake HDFC Bank account using my name to fund Pahalgam terrorist Asif. I will not tolerate being branded a traitor.”

Family Was Away; Tenant Discovered the Body

Verma’s wife and daughter were in Delhi at the time, while his son works in Pune. When he stopped responding to calls, his wife asked their tenant to check on him. The tenant looked through a window and saw Verma hanging. He was rushed to a nearby hospital but was declared dead on arrival.

Advocate Highlighted His Public Service in Bhopal Gas Tragedy

The senior advocate also mentioned his decades of public service, recalling how he performed last rites for “hundreds of victims” during the 1984 Bhopal Gas Tragedy and how the then Chief Minister had allotted him an ambulance for his humanitarian work. He added that he had donated blood nearly 50 times and saved many lives.

Case Linked to “Digital Arrest” Scam, Say Police

Police suspect this is a case of cyber extortion known as digital arrest, where fraudsters intimidate victims by threatening fake legal charges.

Bhopal Police Commissioner Harinarayanchari Mishra told Aaj Tak that a case has been registered and efforts are underway to identify the fraudsters.

“The suicide note mentions that his bank account and mobile number were misused. Police have gathered all the facts and the accused will be arrested soon,” he said.