'Tarak Mehta' Writer Dies by Suicide; Family Alleges Cyber Fraud

Abhishek Makwana's family has alleged that he was a victim of cyber crime.

Abhishek Makwana, a writer of Tarak Mehta ka Ooltah Chashmah died by suicide.

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Abhishek Makwana, one of the writers of the TV show Tarak Mehta ka Ooltah Chashmah, died by suicide last week, as per a report by Mumbai Mirror. The report also states that the family of the late writer has alleged that Makwana was a victim of cyber fraud.

Relatives and friends also claimed that they have been receiving threatening calls from people, demanding they pay back loans that Abhishek had allegedly taken.

As per the Mumbai Mirror report, Abhishek passed away in his Mumbai flat on 27 November and his suicide note mentioned financial troubles as well as difficulties in his personal life. The writer's brother Jenis told the publication that he came to know of Abhishek's troubles only after his death, when the calls started coming in.

Jenis said, "After I began receiving phone calls demanding loans to be paid back I checked my brother's mails. One call was from a registered number in Bangladesh, one in Myanmar and the others from various states of India".

Jenis added that the emails revealed that Abhishek took a loan from an app. "From the mails I found out that Abhishek took a small loan from an 'easy loan' app that charge very high rates of interest. On a close inspection of the transactions I noticed that they kept sending small amounts despite my brother not applying for the loans. Their interest rates are as high as 30%.”

A case has been registered in Charkop police station. An official told Mirror that the family has provided all necessary details and that an investigation is underway.

(If you feel suicidal or know someone in distress, please reach out to them with kindness and call these numbers of local emergency services, helplines, and mental health NGOs)