Navi Mumbai: 50-Year-Old Alibag School Teacher Dies by Suicide at Atal Setu Bridge After Falling Victim to Sextortion

A 50-year-old primary school teacher from Alibag in Maharashtra's Raigad district died by suicide by jumping off the Atal Setu, which is also known as the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL) in Navi Mumbai. The deceased was identified as Vaibhav Pingalay, a resident of Kurud Village in Alibag.

The incident was reported on Friday, February 15, at around 9 am, when Pingalay came in a car on the bridge from Chirner's side, parked his car a side on the bridge, stepped down and jumped to death. According to the family, he was the victim of sextortion.

The Zilla Parishad school teacher Pingalay left his home at around 7.30 am in the morning on Friday by saying the family that he was stepping out. He left his mobile phone at home and travelled all the way to Atal Setu bridge via Chirner, and after driving for close to 9 kilometres, he parked his car and jumped, reported FPJ.

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The family told Ulwe police that Pingalay had already paid Rs 12,000 and RS 6,000 to the cyberbully. He blocked the cybercriminals' phone numbers, but they continued to make calls using different numbers, asking for the extortion amount. He had purchased a new phone, which was found in the car in a sealed box. 

The police identified Pingalay with the help of his car registration number and informed the family about the suicide. The search for PIngalay is still going on.