‘Threatened to leak my private photos’: UP businessman ends life, blames girlfriend, her mother for blackmail

AGRA: A 27-year-old businessman died by suicide in Muzaffarnagar on Saturday after allegedly being repeatedly blackmailed that his private photos and videos with his girlfriend would be circulated online. Police said Ayush Panwar left behind a suicide note accusing girlfriend, Anshika Bhardwaj, 25, and her mother, Babita Devi, of harassment and extortion. He also wrote that he was “suffering from severe mental distress for days”.Panwar, who used to deal with spare parts, was found hanging in his room in Titavi’s Garhi Deshraj village. In the note, he allegedly stated: “They put pressure on me to marry and demanded money, and repeatedly threatened to leak my private photographs, if I refuse. I request the police to take action against both of them.”SHO (Titavi), Pramod Kumar, said, “An FIR under BNS sections 108 (abetment of suicide) and 351-2 (criminal intimidation) has been registered against the mother-daughter duo. Further action will be taken based on the investigation and evidence.” DSP Yatendra Nagar added the body has been sent for postmortem and they are investigating the case.A neighbour said that Panwar, who was upset the past few days, went into his room alone and hanged himself shortly afterwards. “When he didn’t emerge for a long time, his family members opened the door. Police were informed soon after,” he added.