Schoolboy Among Two Arrested in Lucknow Teen’s Suicide Linked to Gaming Fraud
Lucknow Police arrest two in tragic online gaming case.
In a shocking case that has rocked Lucknow, police have apprehended two individuals, including a schoolboy, in connection with the suicide of 14-year-old Yash Yadav, who took his life after losing nearly Rs 14 lakh in an online gaming scam. The arrests, announced on October 1, 2025, have exposed a disturbing network exploiting vulnerable minors through popular mobile games like Free Fire Max.
Yash, a Class 6 student from Mohanlalganj, Lucknow, hanged himself at his home on September 15 after falling victim to a scam orchestrated by 21-year-old Sanat Gorai from Singhbhum, Jharkhand, and a juvenile accomplice from Bihar, according to DCP (Lucknow South) Nipun Agarwal. The duo allegedly manipulated Yash into transferring large sums of money under the false promise of selling his gaming ID for profit.
“During interrogation, the accused admitted to luring Yash through chats and calls while playing Free Fire Max,” said Mohanlalganj Assistant Commissioner of Police Rajneesh Verma. “They promised to help him sell his gaming account but never delivered. When Yash demanded his money back, they threatened him.” The scam, which unfolded over two months, saw Yash transfer funds to multiple bank accounts and e-wallets, which the accused quickly withdrew.
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Police have recovered Rs 4.71 lakh, an Apple laptop purchased with the stolen money, and other items linked to the crime. Additionally, Rs 1.5 lakh has been frozen in various e-wallets. Investigations revealed that Yash had been playing online games since 2018, using a smartphone linked to his father’s bank account, which allowed him to conceal transactions and OTP notifications from his family.
The tragedy came to light when Yash’s father, Suresh Yadav, noticed a significant loss of funds from the sale of ancestral property. Unaware of his son’s involvement, Suresh did not confront Yash, and the family only understood the full extent of the situation after the boy’s death. “This is a heartbreaking case that highlights the dangers of online gaming addiction and scams targeting children,” Agarwal said.
Authorities are now intensifying their probe to dismantle the broader online gambling network preying on minors. The case has sparked outrage and raised urgent questions about the regulation of online gaming platforms and the need for greater parental oversight of children’s digital activities.
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