Janasena MLA Cyber Fraud: ₹12 Lakh Stolen via Fake RTA Link
ELURU — In a startling revelation that highlights the growing sophistication of digital financial crimes, Andhra Pradesh police have initiated a high-level investigation after Janasena MLA C Balaraju was defrauded of ₹12 lakh. The legislator, representing the Polavaram constituency, reportedly fell victim to a malicious Android Package Kit (APK) file which was cleverly disguised as a routine Road Transport Authority (RTA) traffic challan notification. According to official police statements released on Sunday, the breach occurred on March 6 when the MLA unknowingly accessed a fraudulent link sent to his mobile device, which subsequently triggered a series of unauthorized transactions that drained his bank account.
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The Malicious Link: A Digital Trap
Upon realizing the digital theft, the MLA immediately approached the National Cyber Crime Helpline to register a formal complaint. The case was formally transferred to the local police station on March 21 for a detailed criminal probe. Preliminary investigations and bank statement analyses have revealed a troubling geographical spread, as the stolen funds were traced back to an ATM withdrawal located in West Bengal. This specific lead has prompted investigators to suspect the involvement of a highly organized cyber-criminal syndicate, potentially operating with international links and specialized technical infrastructure.
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The Andhra Pradesh police have registered a case under Section 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) along with Section 66 D of the Information Technology (IT) Act. Security experts have noted that this incident serves as a critical warning for high-profile individuals and the general public alike regarding the dangers of “sideloading” APK files from unverified sources. As the investigation widens, authorities are working closely with cyber-forensic teams to identify the digital footprint of the perpetrators and recover the misappropriated assets from the cross-state network.
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