Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 10 Jul: In an incident of online fraud, unidentified individuals allegedly created a fake WhatsApp profile using the photograph of Uttarakhand Principal Secretary R Meenakshi Sundaram. Through this impersonated account, the fraudsters reportedly demanded money from several government officials and private individuals, asking them to transfer funds via Google Pay.
The Energy, Housing and Planning Department has submitted a formal complaint to the Senior Superintendent of Police, Dehradun, urging swift and strict action. As per the complaint, this is not the first time such an incident has occurred. A similar fraud attempt using the name and identity of the Principal Secretary was reported in March 2024, but departmental sources claim that no visible action was taken at the time.
“This is not only a serious cybercrime but also a deliberate attempt to damage the image of a senior government official,” the letter reads. A photocopy of the fraudulent WhatsApp profile screenshot was attached to support the claims.
The department, acting on instructions from the Principal Secretary, has requested the registration of an FIR and strict legal action against the unknown individuals involved in the scam.
This incident highlights the increasing misuse of digital platforms for impersonation and financial fraud, particularly targeting public figures.
