Cyber police register case against loan app operators after Kerala dental student’s death

The Cyber Police have registered a case against unidentified online loan app operators in connection with the death of a first year dental student from Kannur , in a case that has triggered a wider investigation into alleged digital harassment and financial coercion.

According to officials, the case was filed following a complaint lodged by an assistant professor of a dental college . The complaint alleged that she had been subjected to threatening calls and messages after a student who had taken a small online loan defaulted on repayment.

The deceased student, identified as Nithin Raj R L , a 22 year old Bachelor of Dental Surgery student and native of Uzhamalackal in Thiruvananthapuram district, was found critically injured after falling from a building at the medical college campus on April 10. He was rushed to hospital but later succumbed to his injuries.

Police said preliminary findings suggest that Nithin Raj had taken a loan of ₹14,000 through a mobile loan application . After he failed to repay the amount on time, the app operators allegedly escalated pressure and began contacting individuals linked to him, including a woman faculty member.

The FIR states that the assistant professor received threatening communications via WhatsApp and MMS , with alleged attempts at intimidation and illegal financial access.

The cyber police have registered the case under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita , including criminal intimidation and extortion sections , along with provisions of the Information Technology Act dealing with impersonation and online fraud. Officials further stated that the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the student’s death is also examining whether the alleged harassment from loan app operators had any link to the incident.

In a parallel development, the student’s family has alleged emotional harassment by two faculty members , leading to a separate case under charges of abetment of suicide and provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act .

Police sources said digital evidence, including chats recovered from the student’s phone, show he had requested more time to repay the loan due to financial difficulties at home. Investigators also found messages indicating that loan app operators demanded immediate repayment of ₹8,000 , despite his request for an extension.

The cyber police are now examining the student’s mobile phone and digital records to trace the operators behind the app and verify the source of the alleged threats. Statements from the assistant professor who received the messages are also expected to be recorded.The case has now become a multi-layered investigation, involving allegations of online loan harassment, campus related tensions, and a student death under scrutiny.