Gaurav Kumar, a 42-year-old man from Amritsar, has been arrested in Dehradun for allegedly posing as the secretary of Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha. Kumar is accused of swindling crores of rupees from Congress leaders across multiple states by promising election tickets and party positions.
Police report that Kumar impersonated Kanishk Singh, who previously served as Gandhi’s secretary. To establish credibility with his targets, he utilized a fake Truecaller account and gathered information on party leaders from public sources, including myneta.info.
The Exposure of the Operation
The scheme came to light after Bhavana Pandey, a Dehradun-based Congress leader, filed a complaint at the Rajpur police station on May 3. Pandey alleged she was cheated of ₹25 lakh after Kumar promised to secure her a senior role within the party.
Pandey informed police that during calls from a hotel in Dehradun, Kumar played voice recordings he claimed were from top Congress leaders. After she handed over the money through one of his associates, the accused stopped responding.
Pandey further alleged that Kumar claimed the Congress high command was unhappy with Uttarakhand Congress chief Ganesh Godiyal. He reportedly suggested that funds were required to facilitate leadership changes in the state unit.
A Multi-State Fraud Network
Investigators allege that Kumar did not act alone, working with associates from Punjab identified as Chajju, Rajat Mada, and Maninder Singh Kalu. Together, they reportedly targeted leaders in Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, and Bihar.
Police believe the operation spanned several years. In Jaipur in 2017, Kumar allegedly defrauded two Congress leaders of ₹1.90 crore and ₹12 lakh, while in Patna in 2025, he allegedly cheated another leader of ₹3 lakh.
Current Legal Status
Kumar was arrested in Dehradun’s Jakhan area while allegedly attempting to collect money from another Congress office-bearer. A local court has since sent him to 14-day judicial custody.
Superintendent of Police (city) Pramod Kumar stated, “The arrested accused has been sent to judicial custody for 14 days. We are preparing to apply for PCR (police custody remand) for further investigation in the case.”
Authorities noted that Kumar comes from a financially weak background and is married with two children. Police believe more victims may exist, noting that another leader, Sonia Anand Rawat, was also allegedly approached for money.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who did Gaurav Kumar impersonate to carry out the fraud?
He impersonated Kanishk Singh, who had previously served as the secretary to Rahul Gandhi.
Which states were targeted in this alleged scam?
The operation targeted leaders in Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, and Bihar.
How did the accused build credibility with his victims?
He used a fake Truecaller account in Kanishk Singh’s name and gathered information about leaders from public sources like myneta.info.
How can political organizations better protect their members from sophisticated impersonation scams?
