Former Rajya Sabha MP Naresh Gujral, son of late Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral, has reportedly been defrauded of ₹7.8 crore in a cyber scam in New Delhi, police said on Thursday, 18 June. A complaint filed with Delhi Police alleges that a fraudster impersonated Gujral using his WhatsApp profile picture to deceive a member of his staff into transferring the funds.

How the Fraud Unfolded

According to the complaint, a staff member of Naresh Gujral received a WhatsApp message from an unknown number that displayed Gujral's profile picture. The scammer, posing as Gujral, communicated with the employee and eventually shared a bank account number, instructing the employee to transfer ₹7.8 crore via RTGS. Believing the request to be genuine, the employee completed the transaction.

Investigators later confirmed that the WhatsApp number did not belong to Gujral. According to officials, the fraudster had simply appropriated his profile picture to lend credibility to the deception.

Police Response and Money Trail

Delhi Police registered an electronic First Information Report (e-FIR) on Tuesday and constituted a dedicated team to investigate the case. By tracing the scammer's mobile number and the bank account used to receive the funds, investigators have so far managed to freeze nearly ₹4 crore across multiple bank accounts.

The case remains active, with police working to recover the remaining funds and identify those behind the operation.

What Is a 'Boss Scam'

Police noted that this type of fraud is commonly referred to as a 'boss scam' — a scheme in which criminals impersonate a senior executive or company head and instruct employees to carry out financial transactions. The scam exploits institutional trust and the tendency of staff to act swiftly on instructions from perceived authority figures. This is not an isolated incident; Delhi Police have seen a rise in such impersonation-based cyber frauds targeting high-profile individuals and their associates.

Broader Cyber Fraud Pattern in Delhi

The Gujral case comes amid a wider crackdown on cyber fraud in the capital. The Cyber Police Station of Delhi Police's Shahdara District recently dismantled an online investment fraud racket linked to transactions of approximately ₹1.56 crore, arresting two persons for allegedly operating mule bank accounts used to route and conceal proceeds of cyber fraud. Several digital devices and incriminating evidence were recovered during that operation.

In a separate complaint linked to that racket, a victim alleged she was cheated of ₹21 lakh through an online investment scam. Authorities say the accused were actively facilitating cybercriminals by providing and managing bank accounts used to receive and further transfer fraudulent proceeds to obscure the financial trail.

What Happens Next

Delhi Police continue to trace the full money trail in the Gujral case, with ₹4 crore already frozen and efforts ongoing to recover the remaining ₹3.8 crore. The investigation is expected to widen as authorities map the network of bank accounts involved. Experts warn that 'boss scams' are growing in sophistication, and organisations are advised to establish mandatory verbal verification protocols for any financial transfer instruction received over messaging platforms.