Bhopal Cyber Fraud Foiled: How Police Saved INR 1.9 Crore After Sage University Accountant's WhatsApp Hacked
Bhopal police foiled an INR 1.9-crore cyber fraud targeting Sage University after an accountant's WhatsApp was hacked by scammers impersonating the CMD. Quick action by cyber teams restored the account and blocked the transfer. 'People should independently verify any request for large financial transactions received through WhatsApp or other messaging platforms before acting on it,' SHO Dube.
Quick intervention by local authorities successfully thwarted a sophisticated cyber fraud attempt targeting a private university in Bhopal, preventing an unauthorised transfer of INR 1.9 crore. The incident unfolded when an accountant at Sage University received a fraudulent message on WhatsApp, purportedly originating from the institution's top executive. Swift action by the cyber team ensured the compromised account was restored and the high-value transaction was blocked.
WhatsApp Impersonation and Fraudulent Transfer
The episode began around 2:30 PM when accountant Rishabh Bhargava received a WhatsApp message from an individual falsely claiming to be Sanjeev Agrawal, the Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of Sage University. Asaduddin Owaisi’s Convoy Meets With Accident in Bhopal, 4-5 Bikers Injured.
According to police reports, the message directed Bhargava to immediately initiate an urgent transfer of INR 1.9 crore to a designated bank account registered under Bound Builders OPC Private Limited. Believing the directive came from company leadership, Bhargava replied with "Yes Sir" and proceeded to add the provided bank details as a beneficiary on the university's account. Suspicion arose when Bhargava noticed his WhatsApp application functioning erratically and operating completely outside of his control, indicating a compromise. Recognising the anomaly, he immediately alerted the Katara Hills police station.
Swift Police Intervention and Account Recovery
Katara Hills Station House Officer (SHO) Sunil Dube detailed the prompt response from law enforcement. “Rishabh received a WhatsApp message from a number claiming to belong to the university's CMD and was asked to make a payment of INR 1.9 crore. He became suspicious after noticing unusual activity on his WhatsApp account and immediately approached the police,” SHO Dube told IANS.
The local cyber team immediately lodged a formal complaint and generated an expedited recovery ticket with WhatsApp support using the applicant's registered email. Control over the account was successfully restored shortly afterward. Upon regaining access, Bhargava contacted senior colleagues and confirmed that CMD Sanjeev Agrawal had never issued any such payment instructions. Air India AI1886 Emergency Landing: Bhopal-Delhi Flight Diverted To Jaipur After Left Engine Issue.
Advisory and Ongoing Investigation
Authorities emphasised the critical importance of independent verification when handling high-value corporate transactions through digital messaging platforms. “The timely response helped prevent the Rs 1.9-crore cyber fraud. People should independently verify any request for large financial transactions received through WhatsApp or other messaging platforms before acting on it,” SHO Dube cautioned. The operation was conducted under the supervision of senior officials, including DCP Zone-2 Vikas Kumar Lawania and Additional DCP Zone-2 Mini Tiwari, with oversight from ACP Baghsewania Umrao Singh. Constables Vipin Singh Rajawat and Jitendra Singh Dangi played instrumental roles in executing the technical recovery. Police have launched an active investigation to trace the identities and locations of the individuals behind the impersonation attempt.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 25, 2026 07:49 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).