Mayor defrauded of Rs 42.5 lakh; FIR registered at Panchkula Cyber Cell

An FIR was officially registered today at the Panchkula Cyber Cell after a high-profile cyber fraud case came to light, involving the city’s mayor Kulbhushan Goyal. He was defrauded of over Rs 42 lakh in a meticulously planned scam.

According to initial investigations, the fraudsters impersonated Goyal’s relatives using a cloned WhatsApp profile and tricked officials from Punjab and Sind Bank into processing a large fund transfer. A forged letter, allegedly bearing the mayor’s signature, was sent to bank officials, instructing them to transfer funds to specified accounts. The signature, though fake, closely resembled that of Goyal and was enough to convince the bank to proceed — even though it violated internal rules that mandate dual authorisation for high-value transactions.

The scammers lured bank personnel with a promise of a Rs 1 crore investment. Reports reveal that the bank failed to verify the letter’s authenticity or confirm the transaction with the mayor’s office before acting on it.

The lapse has raised serious concerns over protocol breaches and the ease with which fraudsters managed to bypass verification systems. The forged documents, misleading communication, and false urgency facilitated the fraudulent transfer.

The mayor expressed hope that the funds would be recovered soon. He emphasised that swift legal and procedural action was necessary to hold the culprits accountable.

The cyber police have begun a probe into the matter, examining digital trails, call records, and the roles of all involved banking personnel.

Chandigarh