Cyber fraudster offers minister post to MLA for Rs 3 crore, probe launched

Kozhikode (Kerala), Jul 16 (PTI) A cyber fraudster allegedly attempted to dupe Elathur MLA K Vidya Balakrishnan by posing as a staff member of Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, offering her a ministerial post in return for Rs 3 crore, police officials said on Thursday. Kozhikode Cyber Police registered a case based on a complaint filed by the Congress MLA. According to police, Balakrishnan received a WhatsApp call at around 2 pm on July 6 from a person who introduced himself as Raj Kumar from the office of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in New Delhi. The caller allegedly claimed that a cabinet reshuffle was likely to take place in Kerala and that she could be made a minister if she paid Rs 3 crore. Police said the conversation, which was in English, lasted around 10 minutes. The MLA became suspicious of the caller's claims during the conversation. The caller also claimed that Balakrishnan had been referred by another MP from Kozhikode. After the call, the MLA contacted the MP, who told her that a person claiming to be from the AICC office had sought the contact numbers of her and another MLA, police said. Balakrishnan later contacted Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's office, where she was informed that no person by that name worked there, officials said. Police have registered a case under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Information Technology Act. According to investigators, the call originated from New Delhi and a suspect has been identified based on the phone number used. However, police said it remains to be verified whether the SIM card was obtained using forged identity documents. A team from the Kozhikode Cyber Police will travel to New Delhi as part of the investigation, officials added. PTI TBA TBA ADB