Bengaluru — Rajya Sabha MP and Infosys Foundation Chairperson Sudha Murty has become the target of a cyber fraudster who allegedly threatened to misuse her mobile number to circulate obscene content. Police have confirmed that a case has been registered and investigations are underway to trace the accused.
Fraudulent Call Claiming to Be From Telecom Ministry
According to the complaint, Sudha Murty received a suspicious call at 9:40 am on September 5 from a person posing as an official of the Telecom Ministry. The caller claimed that her mobile number was being used to broadcast obscene videos and would be disconnected by noon unless she complied with instructions.
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Murty cross-verified the number on Truecaller, which misleadingly identified it as belonging to the Department of Telecom, adding to the authenticity of the hoax. Police said the fraudster attempted to obtain her personal details under the pretext of a digital security alert.
Threats of Digital Misuse
The caller further alleged that Murty’s number, registered in 2020, had not been linked to her Aadhaar card. He then threatened to send pornographic videos to others using her number, unless she cooperated.
This technique resembles the growing trend of “digital arrest” scams, where criminals impersonate government agencies to coerce victims into sharing personal or financial information.
Complaint and Legal Action
The formal complaint was lodged on September 20 by B. Ganapathy, 65, on behalf of Murty, at the Bengaluru Cyber Crime Police Station. A case has been registered against an unknown person.
Police booked the case under the following provisions:
- Identity theft — Section 66C of the IT Act
- Cheating using computer resources — Section 66D of the IT Act
- Attempt to commit offences — Section 84C of the IT Act
Authorities confirmed that a trap has been laid to identify and apprehend the accused.
Investigation and Police Statement
A senior Bengaluru Cyber Crime Police officer told that the accused tried to exploit a sitting MP through intimidation and impersonation.
“The accused attempted to exploit the MP by threatening her with a fake digital arrest scenario. Our team is monitoring communications and tracing the number to ensure the person is brought to justice,” the officer said.
Investigators have obtained the fraudster’s phone number and are coordinating with telecom service providers to track the origin of the call.
Broader Concerns
Authorities are treating the case as a serious cyber fraud attempt against a prominent public figure. The incident has once again highlighted the sophistication of cybercriminals who manipulate caller IDs, spoof government identities, and exploit fear of official action to extract sensitive information.
The investigation is ongoing, and further updates are expected once the accused is traced and apprehended.
