December 11, 2024: Hyderabad: A young man in Andhra Pradesh, humiliated after loan app agents circulated morphed photos of his wife, has tragically ended his life. The incident has reignited concerns over the criminal tactics employed by unregulated digital lending platforms.
Narendra, 25, recently married Akhila in an intercaste love marriage on October 28. The couple lived in Visakhapatnam, where Narendra worked as a fisherman. However, adverse weather conditions temporarily halted his work, leading to financial distress.
To manage his expenses, Narendra borrowed ₹2,000 from a loan app. Within weeks, he faced harassment from the app’s agents, who demanded repayment through abusive messages. The situation escalated when the agents began circulating doctored photos of his wife, Akhila, with a price quote attached, sending them to friends and family in Narendra’s contact list.
The images eventually reached Akhila, who confronted Narendra. After learning of the loan, the couple decided to repay the amount in full. However, their repayment did not stop the relentless harassment.
The humiliation grew unbearable as acquaintances began questioning Narendra about the morphed images. Heartbroken and unable to cope with the shame, Narendra ended his life on Tuesday—barely six months after his marriage.
This marks the third such incident in Andhra Pradesh within a week. In Nandyal district, another young woman harassed by loan app agents attempted suicide but was rescued by authorities.
Loan apps, which offer quick loans with minimal documentation, have frequently been criticized for their predatory practices and inhumane recovery methods. Andhra Pradesh’s Home Minister, Anitha, addressed the issue in the state assembly last month, vowing to crack down on such operations.
“These apps lure the public with easy loans but resort to illegal and extreme methods to recover them. Their torture has driven several individuals to take their lives,” she stated.
The rising cases highlight the urgent need for stricter regulation of online lending platforms and awareness campaigns to protect vulnerable borrowers.
