Andhra fisherman kills self after harassment over Rs 2000 loan; blackmailed with morphed nude photo of wife

A 27-year-old fisherman in Andhra Pradesh died by suicide after facing relentless harassment over a Rs 2,000 loan he took from an instant loan app, along with allegedly being blackmailed with a morphed nude photo of his new bride, who he had married just 47 days prior.

According to a report in NDTV, due to adverse weather, the man, called Narendra, was unable to go fishing and thus took a loan of Rs 2,000 from an instant loan app to help with expenses.

Police officials said that he was able to pay back the principal, but faced harassment from the loan company to pay a large sum as interest.

When he informed than that he wouldn't be able to do so, the company allegedly used a morphed nude photo of his wife, who he had married just 47 days prior to his death, to blackmail him, sharing the image with his friends on WhatsApp.

Officials stated that Narendra felt unable to share his problems with anyone else. Unable to face more harassment and suffering from severe depression, he hanged himself.

The family has lodged their complaints with the police commissioner and the district collector, NDTV reported.

What to do if you are being harassed by loan recovery agents

As per RBI guidelines, if a loan recovery agent is harassing you, here is what you should do:

• Record all calls, emails, and messages from the recovery agent to show proof of harassment.

• Present this evidence to your loan officer or lender.

• If harassment continues, write or email the RBI with all the details.

• If the recovery agent defames you by contacting friends, family, or causing trouble at your workplace or neighborhood, you can file a defamation lawsuit against the bank and the agent.

• If they enter your property without permission, you can sue for trespassing. Go to the police station and file a complaint as your first step before taking more drastic measures.

• If the police do not help or register your complaint, you can go to court for interim relief against the bank.