Archive · 11 Oct 2026
Fake Aadhaar Helpline Allegedly Steals ₹2.58 Lakh from Mumbai Retiree
Dr Arun Narayan Kshirsagar is an 81-year-old man in Mumbai.
He wanted to check whether his Aadhaar fingerprint service was working.
He searched online and called a number listed as an Aadhaar help centre.
The caller asked for personal information and a small fee, but Kshirsagar did not pay.
Soon, he received messages from his bank, including messages with security codes.
He changed his internet banking password after speaking with the bank.
A few days later, he found that ₹2.58 lakh had left his account.
He reported the incident to the bank, the cybercrime helpline and the police.
Police are investigating and have not identified the people responsible.
An 81-year-old former Garware Institute director, Dr Arun Narayan Kshirsagar, reported losing ₹2.58 lakh from his Canara Bank account.
On October 3, he found an alleged Aadhaar helpline through a Google search listing on Justdial and called the number.
The caller allegedly requested personal details and asked him to pay a ₹5 fee, which he declined.
Kshirsagar received SMS messages, including OTPs, and an initial bank alert for a ₹1.14 debit; he changed his internet banking password.
After discovering the larger transfer on October 7, he contacted the bank, reported the matter to cybercrime helpline 1930, and filed a police complaint.
- Who
- Dr Arun Narayan Kshirsagar, an 81-year-old former director of Garware Institute, reported the loss; unidentified persons are suspected.
- What
- A reported cyber fraud resulted in ₹2.58 lakh being transferred from his Canara Bank account.
- When
- He called the alleged helpline on October 3, 2026, and discovered the transfer on October 7; the report is dated October 10, 2026.
- Where
- The incident involved Kshirsagar’s Canara Bank account at the Parel branch in Mumbai; he filed a complaint at Bhoiwada police station.
- Why
- Kshirsagar called while checking whether his Aadhaar biometric authentication was working; the reported reason for the transfers is under investigation.
- Reported loss
- ₹2.58 lakh
- Complainant
- Dr Arun Narayan Kshirsagar, 81
- Bank
- Canara Bank, Parel branch
- First contact with alleged helpline
- October 3, 2026, at around 11 a.m.
- Transfer discovered
- October 7, 2026, at around noon
- Cybercrime reporting number
- 1930
- Police action
- Bhoiwada police registered a case against unidentified persons under relevant Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Information Technology Act provisions.