A major cyber fraud case has emerged in the national capital after former Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament Naresh Kumar Gujral was allegedly cheated of ₹7.80 crore through a sophisticated WhatsApp impersonation scam.
The Delhi Police Cyber Cell has launched a detailed investigation into the incident, which targeted the family of former Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral. Authorities are currently tracing the financial trail and working to identify those responsible for the fraud.
Fraud Executed Through WhatsApp Impersonation
According to investigators, the scam was carried out by an individual who allegedly impersonated Naresh Gujral on WhatsApp.
Police said the fraudster obtained Gujral’s photograph and used it as a profile image while communicating with one of his staff members. Posing as the former lawmaker, the accused allegedly claimed to be occupied in an important meeting and instructed the employee to urgently transfer funds through Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) to a specified bank account.
Believing the instructions were genuine, the staff member reportedly processed the transfer, resulting in a loss of ₹7.80 crore.
Suspicion Leads to Quick Discovery
The fraud came to light when the employee became concerned about the unusual nature of the transaction and informed Gujral’s daughter.
She immediately contacted her father to verify whether he had authorized the transfer. Upon learning that no such instruction had been issued, the family realized they had become victims of an impersonation-based cybercrime.
The incident was promptly reported through India’s cybercrime helpline, 1930, and an electronic FIR was registered.
Authorities Freeze Nearly ₹4 Crore
Acting swiftly after receiving the complaint, cybercrime officials initiated emergency response protocols to track and block the movement of funds.
According to preliminary information, authorities successfully froze nearly 70 percent of the defrauded amount, estimated at approximately ₹4 crore.
Investigators are now examining banking records, digital communication trails, account ownership details, and network logs to identify the beneficiaries and determine whether the money was routed through mule accounts or organized cybercrime channels.
Growing Threat of Executive Impersonation Fraud
Cybersecurity experts warn that executive impersonation scams have become one of the fastest-growing forms of financial cybercrime.
Fraudsters typically exploit:
- Stolen profile photographs
- WhatsApp display identities
- Urgent payment requests
- Hierarchical workplace trust
- Real-time financial transfer systems
These scams often target senior executives, business owners, political figures, and high-net-worth individuals by manipulating employees into bypassing standard verification procedures.
Profile of Naresh Gujral
Naresh Kumar Gujral is a Chartered Accountant and senior leader of the Shiromani Akali Dal.
He served as a Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha representing Punjab from 2007 to 2022. Prior to his parliamentary tenure, he contested the 2004 Lok Sabha elections from Jalandhar.
He is the son of former Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral, who served as India’s Prime Minister between 1997 and 1998.
Why Financial Forensics Matters
Cases involving high-value cyber fraud require rapid tracing of transactions, verification of digital evidence, and analysis of fund movement across multiple accounts. Professional forensic audit services help organizations and individuals identify suspicious financial activity, reconstruct transaction trails, and support recovery efforts.
Shunyatax Global Insight
The Naresh Gujral fraud case highlights how cybercriminals are increasingly exploiting trust, urgency, and digital impersonation to execute large-scale financial thefts. Even experienced professionals and prominent public figures can become targets when fraudsters successfully mimic trusted identities.
The case also underscores the importance of immediate reporting. Prompt action through the cybercrime helpline enabled authorities to freeze a substantial portion of the stolen funds, significantly improving recovery prospects.
For more updates on cybercrime investigations, financial fraud, compliance developments, and forensic intelligence, visit Shunyatax Global at Shunyatax.in.