Shiv Sena lok Sabha member Bhavana Gawali, who represents the Yavatmal Washim constituency in Maharashtra, has lodged a complaint to the Delhi Police alleging that someone posing as the branch manager of State Bank of India’s Head office in Mumbai called her and asked her for her bank details.
The MP, trusting the man thinking him to be the manager, gave him her bank details but when she saw that nine transactions were made from her parliament street SBI account in New Delhi and Rs 1,20,000 was withdrawn from her account, she realised that she has been conned.
The incident took place on July 29 when after attending the Parliament session she flew to Mumbai.
"I was in Mumbai after attending the Parliament session, I got a call from a number and a man spoke to me and said he is the manager of the State Bank of India's head office in Mumbai and asked a few questions about my account details, which I told him believing him to be a bank officer," said the MP in her complaint to police.
After she saw the messages on her mobile when one after the other transactions were made from her account, she immediately called the SBI bank in New Delhi and blocked her debit card and then informed her personal secretary who then approached police.
Based on her complaint a First Information Report was registered at the Parliament Street Police Station under section 420 (Cheating) of the Indian Penal Code and investigation was started, police said.
"The number from which the MP, got the call was put on surveillance. Although, the true caller of the number showed no name. We have yet to get any lead. All efforts are being made to nab the culprit," said a senior police officer.