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The Greater Chennai Police have arrested three men from Kolkata for allegedly cheating a college girl of 37,500 after luring her to invest in cryptocurrency through social media and driving her to end her life.

A few days ago, the victim, Mahalakshmi, 19, received a message on Instagram about a cryptocurrency investment offer promising attractive returns. She received another message saying 750 would fetch a return of 23,500. Mahalakshmi, whose mother was under pressure because of mounting debts, transferred 37,500 to the account mentioned in the offer. When she did not get any response, the teenager ended her life on April 2 at her house leaving a suicide note explaining the circumstances.

Joint Commissioner of Police R.V. Ramya Bharathi said: After registering a case, we took up investigation and analysed her call records, social media page and her bank transactions to trace those who cheated her. We tracked down the suspects in Kolkata. We deputed a special team that worked for 10 days and traced the ATMs that the accused used.

The special team nabbed the three suspects who were identified as Amanullah Khan, 20, Mohammed Faisal, 21, and Mohammed Asif Iqbal, 22, in Kolkata. There were arrested in Kolkata on Wednesday and brought to Chennai on Thursday.

Ms. Ramya Bharati said: The three were arrested on charges of cheating and abetment of suicide. They are graduates and unemployed. They have cheated several others and swindled nearly 15 lakh to 20 lakh in the last one-and-a-half years. There are no previous cases against them and this is the first time they have been nabbed, she said.

(Assistance for overcoming suicidal thoughts is available on the States health helpline 104, Tele-MANAS 14416. and Snehas suicide prevention helpline 044-24640050).

Read more:
Three men arrested for death of college girl who was lured to invest in cryptocurrency - The Hindu