Manipal student suicide case takes major turn after 10 months; 21-year-old arrested over alleged blackmail

Manipal student suicide case takes major turn after 10 months; 21-year-old arrested over alleged blackmail

Mangalore Today News Network

Udupi, Sep 17, 2026: The Manipal police have arrested a 21-year-old man in connection with the suicide of an Assam-based college student in Manipal nearly 10 months ago. He has been accused of blackmailing and mentally harassing the woman and allegedly abetting her suicide.

The arrested accused has been identified as Sai Sanjay Bingare (21), a native of Dadra and Nagar Haveli. The deceased student, Paula Leslie Wazrir, a resident of Nagaon in Assam, was pursuing her second year at a private college in Manipal.

Paula died by suicide at the apartment where she was staying during the intervening night of November 7 and 8, 2025. Following the incident, the Manipal police had registered a case of unnatural death.

After the initial investigation, police had submitted a final report and closed the case. The deceased student’s Apple iPad, iPhone, diary and digital records from her mobile phone were subsequently handed over to her father.

While examining his daughter’s digital devices, her father reportedly found conversations on Snapchat between her and a person identified as Sai Bingare alias Sai Patil.

Suspecting that the accused had subjected his daughter to continuous mental harassment and blackmailed her, thereby allegedly driving her to suicide, the father filed a private complaint before the court. Following the court’s directions, a case was registered at the Manipal police station.

A team led by PSI Thimmesh B.N., under the guidance of Manipal police inspector Mahesh Prasad, investigated the case and arrested Sai Sanjay Bingare on September 9, 2026.

The accused was produced before the court and has been remanded to judicial custody.