Kannur (Kerala): Police have registered a case of extortion and digital harassment against an online loan app following the death of a first-year BDS student, in a case that has intensified scrutiny of predatory loan apps in India.
The case relates to the death of 22-year-old Nithin Raj R L, a student of a private dental college in Anjarakandy, Kerala, who was found critically injured after falling from a building on April 10 and later succumbed to his injuries.
loan app accused of extortion and intimidation
According to police, the online lending platform allegedly used intimidation tactics to recover a ₹15,000 loan disbursed to the student in January at an interest rate of 36 per cent, in violation of financial regulations.
A case was registered at Chakkarakkallu police station based on a cyber cell complaint filed on April 16. The FIR invokes:
- Section 308 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (extortion)
- Kerala Money Lenders Act
- Kerala Prohibition of Charging Exorbitant Interest Act
Investigators said the app operators repeatedly contacted and allegedly mentally harassed and threatened the student from April 9 onwards, leading up to the incident.
Case of alleged suicide under investigation
Police had earlier registered a separate case of abetment of suicide and charges under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act against two faculty members of the college, following allegations of harassment linked to caste and complexion.
The accused include:
- Dental Anatomy Department Head Dr M K Ram
- Associate Professor Dr KT Sangeetha Nambiar
Both remain untraced, according to officials.
College action and institutional probe
Following student protests, the college management dismissed Dr M K Ram from service.
Multiple agencies have launched parallel inquiries into the incident, including:
- Kerala SC/ST Commission
- Kerala State Human Rights Commission
- Kerala State Youth Commission
- Kerala University of Health Sciences
- Medical Education Department
Rising concern over online loan app harassment in India
The case has renewed concerns over the rise of illegal online loan apps in India, often accused of:
- Charging exorbitant interest rates
- Using abusive recovery tactics
- Digital intimidation and blackmail
- Targeting vulnerable students and low-income borrowers
Authorities are increasingly cracking down on such platforms amid growing reports of harassment-related suicides.
PTI