Scammers forge Nirmala Sitharaman's signature, dupe Pune woman of Rs 99 lakh: Report
New Delhi: In a shocking case of cyber fraud, scammers forged the signature of Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on a fake arrest warrant to swindle a 62-year-old retired LIC officer from Pune of nearly Rs 99 lakh, according to a report by India Today.
The fraud began in the last week of October when the victim, a resident of Kothrud, received a call from a man claiming to represent a “Data Protection Agency.” He alleged that her Aadhaar-linked mobile number had been misused for fraudulent financial transactions.
The call was soon transferred to another person, who introduced himself as a senior police officer named George Mathew. During a video conversation, the impersonator accused her of money laundering and warned that her bank accounts would be frozen. To make the threat appear legitimate, the scammers sent her a forged arrest warrant bearing Sitharaman’s fake signature and what appeared to be an official government seal, according to the Pune City Cyber Police.
The fraudsters reportedly told the woman that, given her age, she would be placed under “digital arrest” and instructed her to transfer all her savings to Reserve Bank of India (RBI) accounts for “verification.” Believing the claim, she transferred Rs 99 lakh to multiple accounts that investigators later found were controlled by a cybercrime network operating from Thane.
To maintain credibility, the scammers even shared additional fabricated documents, including a fake Enforcement Directorate (ED) receipt. When the woman later tried to contact them, their phone numbers had been switched off. Realising she had been duped, she lodged a complaint with the Pune City Cyber Police.
Investigations are underway to trace the bank accounts and phone numbers used in the fraud. Officials said cybercriminals are increasingly exploiting public trust by misusing the names of legitimate government bodies like the Data Protection Board of India (DPBI) and the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).
A Deputy Commissioner of Police (Cyber) described the case as alarming, noting that the use of forged documents bearing signatures of senior ministers and top officials reflects a dangerous new trend. “These scams exploit public trust in official institutions. Citizens should verify any such communication directly with authorities before taking financial action,” India Today quoted the official as saying.
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Elephant calf brought from Bijnor kept under care at Pilibhit Tiger Reserve
Pilibhit (PTI): A 19-day-old elephant calf, brought from Bijnor, was placed under care at the Pilibhit Tiger Reserve (PTR) on Sunday, an official said and added that the calf got separated from its mother in the forest area of Bijnor.
The calf was born on December 2 in the Bijnor forest area and got separated from its mother shortly after birth, the official said.
The forest department made several attempts to reunite it with its mother, but without any success. To ensure the calf's safety and better care, it was decided to transfer it to the Pilibhit Tiger Reserve on the instructions of senior officials.
On Saturday, Deputy Director Manish Singh received the calf. Special arrangements have been made in the reserve for its care. It has been kept in a safe and clean environment to provide it with a natural setting and protect it from external noise and disturbances.
Singh told reporters that raising an 19-day-old calf is challenging.
It requires a special diet as a substitute for mother's milk and constant monitoring.
He said a special team has been formed to provide 24-hour care. Since the calf is very young, it is being cared for like a newborn baby.
According to Singh, the primary responsibility for monitoring the calf's health has been entrusted to PTR's veterinarian, Dr Daksh Gangwar. Under his supervision, a complete record of the calf's health checkups, diet, and body temperature is being maintained. The team is ensuring that the calf does not contract any infection.
