Patna: Police in Patna have cracked the July 11 death of 12-year-old Ayush Singh, arresting a cyber fraudster who allegedly drove the seventh-grade student to suicide through systematic digital extortion.
The suspect, identified as Sunil Sao of Hazaribagh, was taken into custody on August 14 and brought to Patna on August 15 following a month-long technical investigation.
The tragic incident unfolded in the Post Office Lane area of Punaichak. The victim’s father, Ranjeet Singh—a native of Vaishali working as a tailor in Patna—had been out at the market with his wife and younger son when the tragedy occurred. Upon returning home after being alerted by a neighbour, the family discovered Ayush’s body. An initial FIR against an unknown person was lodged by the grieving father.
Unravelling the Digital Trail
The breakthrough in the case came after investigators scrutinised Ayush’s mobile phone records. Police discovered that the boy had been in frequent communication with a phone number displaying a young woman’s photograph as its display picture (DP).
However, subsequent cyber tracking revealed that the account was a trap operated by Sao. Investigators found that the accused had used artificial intelligence to fabricate a nude photograph of Ayush, leveraging the fake image to blackmail the child into transferring money.
Sachivalaya Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO)-1 Dr Anu Kumari confirmed that the investigation established a financial trail. Ayush had transferred cash to the accused on multiple occasions—totalling ₹2,500 across two instalments of ₹1,000 and ₹1,500—under the pressure of the ongoing extortion. CCTV footage recovered from the day of the incident showed the distressed boy walking down the lane, seemingly on a phone call and waiting for someone’s arrival.
Family Disputes Suicide Ruling
While the official post-mortem report concluded that the cause of death was hanging, the victim’s family continues to dispute the finding, suspecting foul play.
“The distance between the fan and the floor is very small,” Ranjeet Singh told reporters, questioning the official narrative. “My son could not have committed suicide; he was killed and then hanged. The accused, Sunil, had him murdered by sending one of his associates. He was strangled to death.”
Police stated that while the investigation into the cyber extortion ring is ongoing, Sao is currently being questioned regarding his broader network of fraudulent activities targeting minors. Authorities have urged parents to monitor children’s online interactions closely as cybercriminals increasingly exploit vulnerable minors using advanced digital tools.
(If you are having suicidal thoughts, or are worried about a friend or need emotional support, someone is always there to listen. Call Sneha Foundation – 04424640050, Tele Manas – 14416 (available 24×7) or Call, the Tata Institute of Social Sciences’ helpline – 02225521111, which is available Monday to Saturday from 8 am to 10 pm.)
