Manipal Student Suicide Case: Youth Arrested Over Alleged Harassment and Blackmail
Udupi: Manipal police have arrested a 21-year-old youth in connection with the death by suicide of a student pursuing her studies at a private college in Manipal. The arrest follows allegations that the accused subjected the student to continuous harassment, coercion, and blackmail.
The case was registered based on a private complaint filed before the court by Leslie Joseph Mathew, 60, a resident of Nagaon, Assam. His daughter, Paula Leslie Warjri, was a second-year student at WGSHA College, Manipal.
According to the complaint, Paula died by suicide in Room No. 504 of Iris Plaza Building near Coin Circle in Manipal between 11.45 p.m. on November 7, 2025, and 8.40 a.m. on November 8, 2025.
Following the incident, Manipal police registered an unnatural death report (UDR No. 45/2025) under Section 194(B) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
After completing the investigation, police submitted a final report and closed the case. Subsequently, the deceased student’s Apple iPad, iPhone, diary, and other digital records were handed over to her family.
According to the complaint, while examining the digital records, the family came across communications exchanged through Snapchat with a person identified as Sai Bhingare alias Sai Patil. Based on the contents of the communications, the complainant suspected that his daughter may have been subjected to continuous harassment, coercion, or blackmail and sought legal action against the person concerned.
Acting on the complaint, Manipal police registered a fresh case and launched an investigation.
The investigation was conducted by PSI Thimmesh B.N. under the direction of Manipal Police Inspector Mahesh Prasad.
The accused, Sai Sanjay Bhingare (21), son of Sanjay Bhingare and a resident of Alok City, Silvassa, in the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, was arrested on September 9, 2026.
He was produced before the court and, following the court’s order, was remanded to judicial custody.
The allegations against the accused are subject to investigation and judicial proceedings.