BRS MLA Palla Rajeswar Reddy Targets of Cyber Fraud; Loses ₹1 Lakh

Hyderabad: In a striking reminder that cybercriminals are increasingly targeting high-profile individuals, Jangaon MLA and BRS leader Palla Rajeswar Reddy was reportedly duped of ₹1 lakh by a fraudster posing as a senior government official. The incident, which came to light on Thursday, April 9, 2026, has sparked a widespread discussion regarding the sophistication of digital scams and the urgent need for heightened vigilance across all levels of society.

According to police reports, the fraud began when Mr. Reddy received a phone call from an individual claiming to be Anantarami Reddy, the Additional Secretary of the Telangana Finance Department. The caller spoke with authority, gaining the MLA’s trust by discussing a central government initiative—the “Viksit Bharat” scheme.

The fraudster claimed that under this scheme, loans of up to ₹10 lakh were being disbursed to eligible beneficiaries. He pressured the MLA to provide a list of 40 candidates from his constituency, Jangaon, insisting that it was the final day for enrollment.

To “process” the applications, the caller demanded a fee of ₹2,500 per person, totaling ₹1 lakh. Believing the scheme would benefit his constituents, Mr. Reddy transferred the amount via PhonePe to the mobile number provided by the scammer.

The deception was uncovered shortly after when the fraudster requested a second transfer, claiming the first payment had not been received. Suspecting foul play, the MLA contacted the actual Finance Department in Hyderabad, only to discover that no such official had called him and no such “processing fee” was required for the government scheme.

Mr. Reddy immediately approached the Jubilee Hills Police, where an official complaint was lodged. Authorities have registered a case under: BNS Sections 319 (2) and 318 (4) (relating to cheating and impersonation), IT Act Sections 66C and 66D (relating to identity theft and cheating by personation using computer resources). “Cyber crooks are now using the names of high-ranking officials to bypass the skepticism of even well-informed public representatives,” a senior police official stated.

Following the incident, the Cyberabad Police issued a fresh advisory urging citizens—including public figures—to verify the credentials of any caller requesting funds for government schemes. They emphasized that: Government officials will never ask for payments to be sent to personal mobile numbers or private UPI IDs. Official payments are only conducted through authorized portals or treasury challans. Any suspicious activity should be reported immediately by calling the national cybercrime helpline at 1930. The investigation is ongoing as police track the digital footprint and bank details associated with the fraudulent transaction.