A 20-year-old married woman working as a beautician and makeup artist died by suicide in Uttar Pradesh’s Etawah district on Tuesday after allegedly facing prolonged harassment and blackmail, police reported on Wednesday, Her husband claimed that a few people used Artificial Intelligence (AI)-generated videos and morphed pictures to intimidate her, owing to which she took the extreme step,

Before ending her life, the woman, identified as Komal Mishra, recorded a video message in which she accused four people of troubling her, holding her responsible for her death. She sent the recording to her husband, Saurabh Dwivedi, moments before taking the drastic step. In the video, she named Rubina Khan, Sabina Khan, Abhishek Singh and Ritesh Roy, alleging they had caused severe distress in her life.

She said in the video, “These four people are the reason I am hanging myself…They have ruined my home. If I die, they should be imprisoned for life.”

Blackmail alleged over personal details

Komal further claimed in the video that the accused had threatened to reveal details about her life before her marriage to her husband Saurabh and her in-laws, leaving her high and dry. Furthermore, she clarified that her husband should not be held responsible for her death, terming him a ‘supportive person’ who loved her.

She asserted, “My husband is very nice. He loves me a lot…He should not be blamed for my death,” adding that she was taking the decision of her own will.

According to Saurabh, the accused created and circulated AI-generated videos and edited photographs featuring his wife, which were allegedly used to blackmail her.

Woman rushed to hospital, pronounced dead

Saurabh, as learnt by police, works as a clerk at the Barhpura block office. He said he immediately rushed Komal to a hospital on receipt of the video message. However, the doctors pronounced her dead upon arrival at the medical facility.

He told police that Komal worked as a makeup artist, beautician, event organiser and had returned from Jaipur recently. He then alleged that some of her acquaintances had been targeting her by means of AI-generated content and manipulated images, leaving her reeling under emotional distress.

Komal and Saurabh had got married three-and-a-half years ago following a relationship and have two children.

Police launch probe

Police have recovered several videos from Komal’s cell phone and are examining the material to verify the allegations she levelled in her final video recording. A police officer said, “The videos recovered from her cell phone are being examined and further legal action shall depend on the basis of the evidence collected during the probe.”

Police have sent Komal’s body for post-mortem and are conducting a probe to ascertain the circumstances under which she died by suicide, besides verifying claims of alleged cyber harassment and blackmail.