An employee of DRDO was defrauded of ₹54 lakh through an online investment scam.

August 9, Hyderabad — Police confirmed today that a 39-year-old employee of the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) lost ₹54 lakh in an online investment scam.

The victim was added to the ASBPL Start-Up Excellence Circle WhatsApp group in May 2025, where participants claimed to be connected to Abhinandan Brokerage Stock Company, a company based in Kolkata. High returns on investments in IPOs and block deals were promised by the group’s assistant, Abhishek. The victim used a mobile application that the scammers provided to transfer ₹54 lakh between June 9 and July 31, 2025, believing the offer. A balance of ₹8.42 crore was shown on the app. Suspicions were raised when the victim tried to withdraw the money and was asked to pay an extra ₹10 lakh as a processing fee. He informed the Hyderabad police about the scam after realizing he had been duped.

In accordance with Sections 66-C and 66-D of the Information Technology Act and pertinent sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), authorities have filed a case. To find the criminals and retrieve the stolen money, investigations are still underway.

This incident emphasizes how professionals are increasingly being targeted by online investment scams. Before making financial commitments, police advise the public to be cautious when approached with unsolicited investment opportunities and to confirm the legitimacy of such offers.