Multilevel marketing scam: Main accused arrested for abetment to suicide

HYDERABAD: The main accused in the case of abetment to suicide, driving a 35-year-man to kill his three sons before dying by suicide in Tangaturu village of Mokila on March 5, 2024, has now been arrested.

The Mokila police have arrested Tirupathi Rao, founder of GSS Foundation in Vizianagaram in Andhra Pradesh. He was found responsible for involving a businessman Ravi in a multi-level scheme. Ravi ultimately ended up in debt and killed his three children before dying by suicide.

Tirupati Rao had started a multilevel financial scheme called GSS foundation which promised higher returns to its investors on investment after a few months.

“The firm had lured people by promising that if they deposit Rs 1 lakh, they would gain up to Rs 5 lakhs in six months,” said the police.

Ravi had joined the finance company after he befriended Tirupathi Rao. A lot of villagers in Mokila had invested in the scheme. However, when no returns came, they approached Ravi.

When Ravi approached the GSS Foundation management, he did not get a proper response. Unable to give a proper response to the villagers, Ravi strangulated his three young children — aged 13, 11 and 6. He later went to an isolated place and hanged himself.

The issue blew out of proportion when journalists including ABN TV reporter Srinu, Eenadu reporter Srinivas, Namaste Telangana reporter Mahesh, Sakshi reporter Praveen, and Vartha reporter Srinivas Reddy allegedly extorted money from Ravi by threatening to expose his involvement in the scheme and his construction of a function hall.

Despite paying a sum of Rs 2,50,000 to the reporters, Ravi continued to face pressure, ultimately leading to his tragic decision.