In a shocking incident highlighting the audacity of cyber criminals, AIADMK Member of Parliament C Ve Shanmugam became the target of a sophisticated digital arrest scam. The parliamentarian filed an official complaint at the Parliament Street police station in New Delhi on Tuesday after receiving threatening calls from individuals impersonating police officers.
The Terrifying Call on the Way to Parliament
The incident occurred on Tuesday morning while Shanmugam was on his way to attend Parliament. He received a call from an individual who spoke in English and identified himself as a police officer from Mumbai. The caller made a serious and baseless accusation, claiming the MP was a terrorist and threatening immediate arrest. This tactic, designed to induce panic, is a hallmark of the notorious 'digital arrest' scams that have been plaguing citizens across India.
Escalation of Threats and Language Switch
The call was then transferred to another person who claimed to be a senior Police Inspector. This second fraudster escalated the threats, falsely stating that 17 criminal cases were pending against the AIADMK leader. When the vigilant MP requested proper authentication of their identities as genuine police officers, the scammers' demeanor changed dramatically. They abruptly switched to speaking in Tamil and began hurling abuses at him.
"The fact that these criminals are audacious enough to target a sitting MP is a testament to the scale and seriousness of this menace," Shanmugam stated, emphasizing the brazen nature of the crime. The experience underscores that no one, not even elected representatives, is immune to these well-organized cyber fraud rings.
Demand for a High-Level CBI Investigation
Following the harrowing experience, C Ve Shanmugam took immediate action by lodging a formal complaint with the Delhi Police. Given the interstate nature of the crime and the potential involvement of organized syndicates, the MP has strongly demanded that the investigation be transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). He believes a central agency is necessary to unravel the network behind such scams that operate across state borders and target individuals nationwide.
This incident serves as a critical reminder for the public to remain extremely cautious of unsolicited calls, especially those making alarming legal claims or demanding immediate action. Authorities repeatedly advise verifying the identity of callers through official channels and never sharing personal or financial details under pressure.
