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Scammer Poses As Rahul Gandhi's Assistant, Cheats Woman Of Rs 25 Lakh
A Dehradun woman was duped of Rs 25 lakh by a man who posed as Rahul Gandhi's personal assistant. He used audio clips to imitate leaders and claimed funds were needed for surveys, promising reimbursement later. The victim paid in cash and instalments before realizing the scam and filing a police complaint.
Why It Matters
The case highlights how impersonation and social-engineering tactics can exploit political figures and erode public trust; it also underscores the importance of vigilance in financial transactions.
Timeline
3 Events
Complaint filed and police case registered
May 6, 2026
After realising she had been scammed and when the accused stopped contacting her, Pandey filed a police complaint. The Rajpur Police registered a case under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and an investigation was launched to trace the culprits.
First payment: Rs 9.5 lakh transferred to the scammer
April 13, 2026
The accused, who claimed to be Gandhi's personal assistant, gained Pandey's trust by playing audio clips mimicking voices of political leaders. He asserted the leaders were staying at a Dehradun hotel and were conducting surveys that required funds, promising to reimburse her later. Pandey then transferred Rs 9.5 lakh from her bank account.
Additional payments: cash and instalments to an accomplice
April 2026
Pandey handed over about Rs 5 lakh in cash and paid the remaining amount in instalments to another accomplice of the accused, who was falsely introduced as an MLA from Maharashtra.