Naresh Gujral, Son of Former PM, Scammed Rs 7.8 Crore in WhatsApp Fraud

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Former Prime Minister’s Son Suffers Major Financial Loss in Cyber Fraud Scheme

Overview of the Cyber Fraud Incident

Delhi Police Cyber Cell initiated an investigation following a reported Rs 7.80 crore cyber fraud targeting a former Member of Parliament. Authorities successfully froze approximately Rs 4 crore after receiving a complaint through the 1930 cybercrime helpline. A First Information Report (FIR) was filed in connection with the case, which involved a sophisticated deception tactic.

Details of the Fraud Scheme

Investigators revealed that fraudsters impersonated the victim, a senior political figure, by using his photograph to communicate with an employee via a messaging platform. The impersonator claimed to be occupied in a meeting and instructed the staff member to transfer large sums of money through the Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) system to a designated bank account.

Discovery and Reporting of the Fraud

The irregularity was detected when the employee became suspicious and informed the victim’s daughter about the transaction. She immediately contacted her father to confirm the legitimacy of the request. Upon verification, it became clear that no such instructions had been issued, prompting the family to recognize the incident as a targeted cybercrime. The daughter promptly reported the matter to the 1930 helpline, initiating a formal response from law enforcement.

Victim’s Background and Political Influence

The victim, Naresh Kumar Gujral, is a Chartered Accountant and a prominent leader within the Shiromani Akali Dal. He served as a Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha for Punjab from 2007 to 2022. Prior to this, he contested the 2004 Lok Sabha elections from the Jallandhar constituency but was defeated by Rana Gurjeet Singh. As the son of former Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral, who held office from 1997 to 1998, he has maintained a presence in national political discussions, particularly concerning Punjab-related issues.

Ongoing Investigations and Implications

Ongoing efforts by legal and technical teams aim to analyze network logs and trace the individuals responsible for the scheme. The case highlights the increasing prevalence of impersonation-based fraud and the critical role of immediate reporting through dedicated cybercrime channels.

“The case highlights the increasing prevalence of impersonation-based fraud and the critical role of immediate reporting through dedicated cybercrime channels.”