TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee Falls Victim to Cyber Fraud of Rs 57 Lakh

Post by : Bianca Suleiman

In a startling incident, TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee has emerged as a notable victim of a significant cyber fraud, shedding light on the increasing threats faced by both citizens and public figures. A sum of over Rs 57 lakh was unlawfully extracted from one of his inactive accounts at the State Bank of India (SBI) via unauthorized transactions.

Representative of Serampore in West Bengal, Banerjee expressed substantial concern regarding the issue of cybercrime. “If someone like me can be ensnared in bank fraud, what can ordinary citizens expect? Why isn’t the Ministry of Finance establishing a unit dedicated to combating cyber fraud?” he queried.

His account, which had remained unused for several years, was said to have been opened between 2001 and 2006 during his tenure as MLA for Asansol South. Allegations suggest that cybercriminals employed forged PAN and Aadhaar cards, even superimposing Banerjee’s photograph, to execute this deception. Multiple transactions led to almost Rs 57 lakh being drained from the account before it caught the bank's attention.

Upon identifying irregular activity, the bank promptly reported the case to the Kolkata Police cybercrime unit. Banerjee later verified that SBI had restored the funds to his parliamentary account, attributing the unauthorized withdrawals to an internal error.

Investigators are currently delving into the mechanics of the fraud and evaluating the bank's procedures to avert future occurrences. This incident serves as a powerful reminder that even established public officials are exposed to cyber threats, underscoring the critical necessity for enhanced security measures and public education.