Thiruvananthapuram: An audacious impersonation and financial fraud attempt targeting Congress legislators in Kerala has triggered cyber investigations after fraudsters, posing as officials from Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi's office, allegedly promised ministerial berths and other high-ranking positions in exchange for crores of rupees. The incident prompted D.S. Rajkumar, Private Secretary to Priyanka Gandhi, to lodge a formal complaint with the Kerala Police.
The scam first came to light after Elathur MLA Vidya Balakrishnan received a WhatsApp call from a person claiming to be from Priyanka Gandhi's office in New Delhi.
The caller claimed that a Cabinet reshuffle in Kerala was imminent and demanded Rs 3 crore to secure her a berth in the ministry. The fraudster also claimed to be calling from Delhi.
Investigations have since revealed that the same phone number was used to contact Vadakara MP Shafi Parambil and Idukki MP Dean Kuriakose.
The seriousness of the incident prompted D.S. Rajkumar, Private Secretary to Priyanka Gandhi, to lodge a formal complaint with the Kerala Director General of Police and the Wayanad Superintendent of Police.
Based on the complaint, Kalpetta Cyber Police registered a case of impersonation, while the Kozhikode Cyber Cell launched a parallel investigation following Vidya Balakrishnan's complaint.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the calls originated from Delhi.
Police suspect the fraudsters used sophisticated caller spoofing technology and mule accounts to conceal their identities, leading investigators to believe that the phone number displayed may not belong to the actual caller.
Cyber investigators are now working to trace those behind the operation.
Vidya Balakrishnan confirmed that she had received the WhatsApp call and said she approached the police on the directions of the Congress leadership.
She declined to disclose further details, stating that revealing information while the investigation is underway could hamper efforts to identify the culprits.
The bizarre claim of an imminent Cabinet reshuffle also drew a light-hearted response from Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan.
When asked about the purported offer of ministerial berths, Satheesan laughed off the suggestion, remarking, "A Cabinet reshuffle and that, too, without me knowing?" before brushing aside the claim as absurd.
The incident has once again highlighted the growing sophistication of cyber-enabled impersonation scams, with investigators warning that fraudsters are increasingly exploiting the names of prominent political leaders and institutions to lend credibility to elaborate financial frauds.
Police are examining digital evidence from the calls and are expected to seek assistance from agencies outside the state as the investigation progresses.
Speaking to the media in Delhi, Kalpetta (Wayanad district) Congress MLA and State Agriculture Minister T. Siddiqque said the issue cannot be brushed aside as a prank and it will be seriously probed.
