Mumbai: The Bandra police registered an FIR against an unidentified individual for allegedly attempting to fraudulently become the authorised signatory of Baba Siddique’s mobile number. The number is linked to the family’s real estate and business firm. Siddique’s daughter, Dr Arshia Siddique, 35, filed a complaint with the police, following which the case was registered on June 26.
According to the FIR, Dr Arshia Siddique resides in Bandra West and runs a food business called Flavour Food Venture. Baba Siddique’s wife, Shehzeen Siddique, runs Zears Business India LLP, which is a real estate company. Baba Siddique’s mobile number is linked to both these companies. His family has kept the number active in his memory. However, someone allegedly tried to fraudulently take over the authority of the mobile number.
The fraudster created a fake email ID in Shehzeen Siddique’s name and used it to send a fake email to Vodafone, requesting the status of the authorised signatory. The fraudster also accessed Shehzeen Siddique’s Aadhaar number, PAN card, GST number and the family company’s letterhead. These details were then used through the spoofed email ID to submit a fraudulent request to the mobile company to be listed as the new authorised signatory on Siddique’s number. The fraudulent names involved were Micheal Sharma, Tarun Kumar, Avinash Arora, and Sumit Sharma.
After receiving the email, the mobile company replied to Shehzeen Siddique on June 25. The reply stated that a request had been received for an authorised signatory update and — crucially — CC’d Shehzeen Siddique’s real email ID, revealing that a spoofed account had initiated the request. When Shehzeen received the email, it became clear that someone had made a fake application in her name and had allegedly attempted to fraudulently become the authorised signatory of Baba Siddique’s mobile number.
The Bandra police have registered an FIR under sections 319(2) (cheating by personation), 62 (attempt to commit offences punishable with imprisonment), 335 (making a false document), 336(2) & 336(3) (forgery), and 340(2) (using forged electronic records as genuine) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
