A 31-year-old police constable in Telangana died by suicide after allegedly facing threats, harassment and circulation of morphed photographs by operators of online loan applications, police said.
Mudavath Srinu, who served in the 3rd Battalion, was found dead at his residence in Harshaguda village of Maheshwaram mandal on Monday night, according to B. Vinod Kumar, sub-inspector at Pahadishareef police station. The case was reported on Tuesday.
According to a complaint filed by Srinu’s mother, he had borrowed money through multiple loan applications and the family was struggling to meet the repayments. Police said he was distressed by repeated threats and morphed images sent to his phone by people allegedly linked to the loan apps.
The investigation also found that Srinu’s debts had worsened because of an addiction to online cricket betting, police said. The exact role of the loan-app operators and the circumstances surrounding the alleged digital harassment are being examined.
Pahadishareef police registered a case under crime number 744 of 2026, invoking Sections 108, 351 and 352 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Srinu’s mobile phone has been seized for examination of messages, financial transactions and other digital evidence.
His body was handed over to relatives after a postmortem examination at Osmania General Hospital. The police investigation will examine the communications received on his phone, the transactions associated with the loan applications and the identities of those who allegedly sent threats and morphed photographs.
The incident highlights the risks faced by borrowers dealing with unauthorised digital lending platforms, particularly when repayment pressure is combined with intrusive collection practices and misuse of personal images. Police urged the public to avoid online betting and unauthorised loan applications.
Pahadishareef police also advised people facing financial distress or cyber harassment to approach the police immediately. Further action in the case will depend on the examination of the seized phone and other digital evidence.
