Tragic Family Suicide Linked to Moneylender Arrest in Shahjahanpur

Shahjahanpur (UP), Sep 1 (PTI) - A significant development unfolded as police arrested a moneylender linked to the tragic alleged suicide of a local businessman, his spouse, and their infant child. On Monday, authorities confirmed the arrest after the tragedy that has sparked widespread outrage in the city.

On August 27, the lifeless bodies of businessman Sachin Grover and his wife Shivani were discovered hanging, while their four-month-old son was found deceased in a separate room of their residence, suggesting that the infant might have been poisoned beforehand.

In a separate incident, a man reportedly ingested poison on Saturday, allegedly due to harassment by a corporator. Both distressing events have ignited public anger and demands for justice.

Superintendent of Police (SP) Rajesh Dwivedi reported to PTI that the police apprehended Shanky Anand on Sunday in connection with the first incident.

Anand confessed to illegally lending money to Grover at a staggering 12 percent interest rate. Evidence was extracted from Anand's phone, including recorded conversations where he vehemently pressured and threatened Grover to repay outstanding debts within a 48-hour timeframe.

The investigation also revealed that Anand harassed Grover's wife regarding the repayment. Furthermore, Anand disclosed that other entities were also involved in providing loans to Grover at high-interest rates.

In response to the situation, the police have initiated a dedicated toll-free helpline, 78-39-860-856, for citizens to report any harassment by usurers. Additionally, five specialized teams have been established to probe such matters thoroughly.

"No moneylender will be spared. Strict action will be taken," Dwivedi affirmed, highlighting that offenders would face severe charges under the Gangsters Act.

The arrest has fueled political agitation, with the Samajwadi Party organizing protests on Monday. They demanded the rigorous application of the Gangsters Act against moneylenders across the district.

Tarnvir Khwaja, the SP district president, accused loan sharks of operating a "network of exploitation," implicating them in the devastating incidents that have since roiled the community.

(Only the headline of this report may have been reworked by Editorji; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)