Kirti Kulhari loses ₹2.43 lakh in cyber fraud, case filed at Mumbai's Amboli police station
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Bollywood actress and producer Kirti Kulhari, best known recently for the streaming series 'Shekhar Home', has become the latest celebrity victim of cyber fraud in Mumbai. Unidentified cyber criminals allegedly gained unauthorised access to her mobile phone and credit card, siphoning off ₹2,43,852 in a matter of minutes, according to a complaint filed with the Amboli police station on 29 July.
How the Fraud Unfolded
According to the First Information Report (FIR), Kulhari was at Cinepolis theatre near Fun Republic Mall in Andheri West, Mumbai when she received an alert on her registered mobile number flagging a suspicious transaction of $2,525 on Aeromexico airline charged to her credit card. Recognising the transaction as unauthorised, she immediately contacted her bank's toll-free helpline.
Bank officials, after a preliminary investigation, confirmed that four separate major transactions had been made from her credit card without her authorisation. The card was blocked immediately as a precautionary measure.
What the Actress Told Police
In her statement to investigators, Kulhari maintained that her credit card password was strictly confidential and had not been shared with anyone. Investigators suspect the breach occurred through digital malware or spyware that compromised both her phone and card details. The FIR has been registered against unknown accused, given the seriousness of the case.
Cyber Cell Investigation Under Way
The Cyber Cell team attached to Amboli police station is now tracing the accused using bank reference numbers and digital footprints left behind during the fraudulent transactions. Notably, such cross-border credit card fraud — involving foreign airline transactions — has become an increasingly common vector for cybercriminals targeting high-profile individuals in India.
Kulhari's Recent Milestones
The incident comes at a significant juncture in Kulhari's career. The actress recently announced the completion of the shoot for her first feature film as a producer, calling it an emotional milestone. She shared the update on Instagram, reflecting that life had taught her there is a 'right time for everything.'
With the Cyber Cell investigation ongoing, authorities are expected to trace the digital trail of the accused through transaction logs and network data in the coming days.