Belagavi: An elderly couple in Karnataka’s Belagavi district died by suicide after being defrauded of ₹50 lakh by cybercriminals posing as Delhi Crime Branch officials, media reports said.

Diyango Najarat (83) ended his life by slitting his throat, while his wife, Playviana Najarat (79), consumed poison, India Today reported.

According to police, the couple left behind a suicide note detailing their ordeal.

The fraudsters had contacted them via video call, falsely accusing them of involvement in a criminal case and claiming that their mobile number and ID proof had been compromised.

They initially demanded ₹5 lakh as a settlement fee, which the couple paid.

However, the threats and extortion continued, ultimately costing them over ₹50 lakh.

Both former employees of the Maharashtra Secretariat, the couple had no children or immediate family and did not share their distress with anyone.

The case was initially suspected to be a murder until investigators found the suicide note and examined their mobile phone records.

The bodies have been sent to Belagavi BIMS Hospital for post-mortem.

“We have accessed their bank accounts and are still calculating the total amount extorted. This is a serious matter, and a detailed investigation is underway,” a senior Nandgad police official was quoted as saying by India Today.