Phone of woman who killed herself rings as she's being cremated. A digital arrest trail emerges

A chilling case of cybercrime has surfaced from Uttar Pradesh's Bijnor, where a woman's phone kept ringing even as her funeral was being performed. The case of Monika exposes a disturbing trail of intimidation, harassment, online fraud and a months-long digital arrest.

Monika died by suicide on the intervening night of April 27 and 28. She hanged herself using a dupatta (long scarf) in a room of her house while her two daughters, aged eight and 11, were asleep beside her. The next morning, her children woke up to find their mother hanging. But the 28-year-old woman's suicide in Bijor's Faridpur Bhogi village was not reported to the police. It was only after Monika's phone rang during her cremation that her family members got to know that Monika had been forced to die and had been digitally arrested by a person who kept calling the woman.

After Monika's suicide, her family had suspected something unusual. But at the same time, they were constrained by social pressures. Without letting the word out, the family went ahead with Monika's cremation. The police were also not informed. However, after Monika's mobile phone rang repeatedly during the cremation, new mysterious details emerged and changed the course of the case.

MONIKA'S PHONE REPEATEDLY RAND DURING HER CREMATION

Monika's nephew, Sanyog, said that her phone kept receiving calls even during the cremation. When Sanyog answered one call, a man appeared on a video call dressed in what seemed like a police uniform. Claiming to be a Crime Branch officer, he demanded to speak to Monika and issued threats when told she was unavailable. The man was also informed that Monika had died. Then, the man threatened Monika's husband.

These unusual interactions raised immediate suspicion of fraud.

Following the interaction on the call and Monika's cremation, her family began to search for belongings in the residence. They discovered a suicide note in her diary.

In the note, Monika had detailed continuous harassment by an unknown caller who had been blackmailing and threatening her. When Monika's phone was scanned by the family, multiple WhatsApp calls, messages, and audio clips from at least five different numbers, emerged. Some of them posed as law enforcement officials, who accused Monika of serious crimes such as trafficking and warned of legal action.

Investigators believe the fraudsters created a false narrative of "digital arrest", a scam tactic where victims are made to believe they are under official investigation or custody. Through fear, intimidation, and constant pressure, the perpetrators allegedly demanded money from Monika and threatened to destroy her reputation and family if she didn't pay them.

It is to be noted that the harassment did not end with Monika's death.

Family members reported that the same callers continued to ring even after the cremation, insisting on speaking to Monika. When told she had died, they allegedly threatened her husband with jail and warned of consequences for the entire family. That's when Monika's family rushed to the police.

Following a complaint by Monika's husband, Randhir, the Uttar Pradesh Police in Bijnor have registered a case at Kotwali City station under Section 108 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Officials say they are examining the suicide note, phone records, and digital evidence to establish the extent of cyberbullying and extortion.

Efforts are underway to trace and arrest those involved.

DIGITAL ARRESTS KEEP HURTING INDIANS

Monika's case shows how criminals exploit fear of law enforcement to manipulate victims and execute digital arrest scams. These psychological tactics are devastating, especially when victims are isolated and unsure how to respond. Digital arrests are making Indians lose their hard-earned money and even life in some cases.

India in 2025 saw a decline in digital arrest cyber fraud cases, a significant dip from the 2024 numbers. Reported cases dropped to 17,264 in 2025. That was an 86% fall from 1,23,672 cases in 2024. Financial losses declined to Rs 644 crore from Rs 1,918 crore between 2025 and 2024, which was a reduction of over 66%, according to the Ministry of Home Affairs' Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre.

Karnataka, with 346 cases in 2025, saw the highest reported cases of digital arrests. People in Karnataka lost around Rs 215 crore in 2025 due to higher-value frauds, reported The Hindu newspaper.

Despite the drop in cases in 2025, the threat of digital arrests remains significant. Digital arrest scams accounted for around 8% to 9% of total cyber fraud losses in 2025.

Monika's case, and the fact that her perpetrator kept calling her family during the cremation, and even after knowing she had died, continuing to demand money and issue threats, shows how ruthless these fraudsters can be. It highlights the extent to which they intimidate, financially exploit, and mentally harass victims, sometimes pushing them to the point of death.

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