Cyber fraudsters allegedly hacked the mobile number of Bhagwant Singh Dhanger, Chief Manager of the Golden Temple, and used it to send messages to his contacts seeking money under false pretences.
The incident came to light after several recipients contacted him directly to verify the requests, prompting a complaint to police in Amritsar.
How the account was allegedly compromised
Dhanger told police he had received a call from an unidentified person claiming that a parcel had arrived in his name and asking him to contact another number for details. Shortly after he returned the call, his WhatsApp account was disabled.
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The hackers then allegedly accessed his contact list and began sending messages to relatives and other acquaintances claiming an urgent need for money. A screenshot in the complaint shows a message asking for Rs 45,000 online, with the assurance that the amount would be returned within two hours because UPI was not working.
Public warning issued after fraud surfaced
After realising the breach, Dhanger informed the police, regained control of his social media accounts and issued a public clarification warning people not to trust any message sent from his number asking for money. He urged recipients to ignore suspicious messages and not transfer money to any unknown bank account.
He appealed to people to remain cautious and to disregard any such demand made in his name. The case led to a complaint being filed with the cyber crime cell.
Police begin investigation
Vishaljit Singh, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police, said an investigation had been launched into the matter. Police are examining how the hacking was carried out and who may have been involved.
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee appealed to both its officials and the public to stay alert and not respond to suspicious messages. The report describes the episode as another reminder that cybercriminals are increasingly targeting even prominent individuals linked to religious institutions.
About the author – Rehan Khan is a law student and legal journalist with a keen interest in cybercrime, digital fraud, and emerging technology laws. He writes on the intersection of law, cybersecurity, and online safety, focusing on developments that impact individuals and institutions in India.
