Congress Leader Conned of Rs 10 Lakh by Fake Rahul Gandhi Aide
A senior Haryana Congress leader was allegedly defrauded of Rs 10 lakh by an impostor posing as the personal secretary to Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi. The suspect orchestrated a sophisticated WhatsApp scam, solicitating funds under the pretext of financing an official party training conference.
Key Highlights
- Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee member Sanjiv was targeted via a fraudulent WhatsApp call on January 24.
- The perpetrator impersonated Kanishk Singh, demanding financial assistance for a party event in Chandigarh.
- The victim and another politician delivered Rs 10 lakh in cash before realizing the operation was a hoax.
- Kurukshetra Police have registered a criminal case and initiated a digital forensic investigation.
An executive member of the Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee, Sanjiv, received a deceptive WhatsApp communication on January 24 from an individual falsely identifying himself as Kanishk Singh, the personal secretary to senior leader Rahul Gandhi.
The fraudulent caller informed Sanjiv that the Uttarakhand Congress unit had scheduled an official training programme in Chandigarh, subsequently requesting urgent financial contributions to help facilitate the regional political event.
According to law enforcement authorities, the caller assured the Bhukri resident that high-ranking members of the Congress high command would attend, promising the victim responsibility over hotel accommodations and local logistical management.
The scammer further incentivized the political executive by guaranteeing him an exclusive personal audience with top-tier national party leaders during the scheduled conference.
ANYTIME, ANYWHERE.
Preserving the original structural transition, law enforcement officials confirmed that Sanjiv and fellow party leader Pawan Sharma collectively raised Rs 5 lakh each to fulfill the request.
Later that evening, at approximately 11 pm, the fictitious secretary directed the victims to a hotel parking lot in Chandigarh, where they met an intermediary identifying himself as Deepak.
Following a brief telephonic confirmation with the primary caller, Sanjiv transferred the aggregated cash to the courier, though he successfully captured a photographic record of the suspect.
The next day, the caller attempted to extort an additional Rs 5 lakh, prompting suspicion from Sanjiv, who refused the demand and subsequently lost all telephonic contact with the individual.
Internal verifications conducted by the victim with central Congress officials later confirmed that no such training conference had ever been sanctioned or scheduled by the party.
The defrauded politician admitted to authorities that initial embarrassment delayed his official reporting, but recent news of parallel digital scams and enforcement actions by the Uttarakhand Police prompted him to come forward.
Superintendent of Police Chander Mohan directed the Thanesar City Police station to formally register a first information report for cheating and immediately initiate criminal proceedings.
Cyber crime investigators and local police teams are currently auditing the specific mobile numbers, call records, and accompanying digital footprints left by the fraudsters.
Historical Context
This incident reflects a rising trajectory of high-profile political impersonation scams across India, where digital communication platforms are exploited to deceive party workers. Fraudsters increasingly weaponize the names of national leaders and their immediate staff to bypass traditional verification. Similar operations discovered by the Uttarakhand Police indicate structured syndicates specifically targeting regional political executives by leveraging their aspirations for organizational advancement.
FAQs
Who was impersonated in this political fundraising scam?
The fraudster impersonated Kanishk Singh, who serves as the personal secretary to the Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition, Rahul Gandhi.
How much money was stolen from the Congress leaders?
The fraudsters successfully extracted a total of Rs 10 lakh in cash, which was split equally between two regional party members.
What excuse did the fraudster use to solicit the funds?
The impostor claimed the financial assistance was urgently required to organize an official training programme for the Uttarakhand Congress unit in Chandigarh.
Why did the victim delay reporting the crime to the police?
The complainant initially refrained from filing a police report due to personal and professional embarrassment before learning about similar fraud cases.
