TL;DR: Fraudsters used the identity of former Rajya Sabha member Naresh Gujral, son of former Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral, on WhatsApp and told an office employee to make RTGS transfers totalling ₹7.68 crore. After a complaint through the cybercrime helpline, Delhi Police froze ₹4.28 crore, more than half the money.
What happened
UNI reported that an e-FIR was registered on June 16, 2026. Scammers impersonated Naresh Kumar Gujral on WhatsApp using his photograph and contacted one of his employees, claiming to be in a meeting and instructing the employee to transfer money through RTGS to a specified bank account. The employee complied, and the loss was ₹7.68 crore. Some outlets rounded the figure to ₹7.8 crore.
Hindustan Times reported on June 19, 2026 that the fraudsters convinced the employee to transfer the money through multiple RTGS transactions. Naresh Gujral is a former Rajya Sabha member and the son of former Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral.
The freeze
Police moved quickly after the complaint was made through the cybercrime helpline. They managed to freeze ₹4.28 crore, which meant more than half of the money was stopped before it could disappear completely. The investigation continued into the remaining funds and the people behind the operation.
The lesson for any office
The scam needed no hacking: a known name, a photograph and a plausible excuse ("I am in a meeting") were enough. It matches the cases in ₹1 crore lost to a fake WhatsApp boss and a fake managing director on WhatsApp. Set a rule that no RTGS or transfer is made on a chat instruction without a call-back to a known number.
After a loss, call 1930 and report at the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal. Read the 1930 golden hour explained, what to do after you have been scammed and common scams in India in 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much was lost and how much was frozen in the Gujral impersonation fraud?
UNI reported that ₹7.68 crore was lost and Delhi Police froze ₹4.28 crore. Some outlets reported the loss as ₹7.8 crore.
How did the scammers get the money?
They impersonated Naresh Gujral on WhatsApp with his photograph and told an office employee to make RTGS transfers, claiming to be in a meeting.
When was the case registered?
UNI reported that the e-FIR was registered on June 16, 2026.
How can offices avoid this kind of fraud?
Do not transfer money on a chat instruction alone. Verify through a call to a known number before any payment.