India News | Man Poses as Union Minister Hardeep Puri, Zero FIR Transferred from Kohima to Delhi
Get latest articles and stories on India at LatestLY. A case has been registered at the Geeta Colony police station in east Delhi after a zero FIR was transferred from Kohima where a man allegedly impersonated Union minister Hardeep Puri and sent messages to a BJP spokesperson, officials said on Wednesday.
New Delhi, Feb 15 (PTI) A case has been registered at the Geeta Colony police station in east Delhi after a zero FIR was transferred from Kohima where a man allegedly impersonated Union minister Hardeep Puri and sent messages to a BJP spokesperson, officials said on Wednesday.
They said police examined the suspect, a labourer who lives in the Geeta Colony, and they believe he could have been a victim of cyberattack.
Also Read | Tripura Assembly Elections 2023: Key Constituencies To Watch Out for in Triangular Fight.
They said his WhatsApp account could have been hacked by criminals who used the minister's picture as profile picture to send messages.
According to police, a zero FIR -- which refers to an FIR registered at a police station when the place of crime is outside its jurisdiction -- was registered on February 3 under sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Information Technology Act at Kohima in Nagaland and was transferred to Geeta Colony police station.
Also Read | Rajasthan Tourism Minister Vishvendra Singh Declines Comment on Colleague's Advice To Sell Beer in Hotels.
An FIR was registered here on Tuesday, police said.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Shahdara) Rohit Meena said, a complaint was registered stating that some unknown person impersonated Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Puri.
He said the accused was using the minister's photo as his profile picture on WhatsApp. He sent a message to Mmhonlumo Kikon, a BJP national spokesperson and Mizoram in-charge, recently.
It is suspect that his WhatsApp account could have been hacked by sending him a phishing link or via an OTP. Police have written to WhatsApp in connection with the case, police said.
Police identified the person through technical surveillance and local inquiry, following which he was called for the questioning, they added.
(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)