West Bengal Governor Impersonation Case Triggers Cyber Crime Investigation
The West Bengal Governor's Office has lodged a complaint with the Kolkata Police Cyber Crime Cell after an unidentified individual allegedly impersonated the Governor and made phone calls to dignitaries , senior government officials , and other individuals, prompting authorities to launch an investigation and issue a public advisory against fraudulent communications.
According to a statement issued by Lok Bhavan , the official residence and office of the Governor of West Bengal , the impersonator used a mobile phone to falsely claim to be the Governor or an officer of Lok Bhavan while contacting senior officials. The Governor's Office described the incident as a serious breach and said appropriate legal action had been initiated.
"A serious view has been taken of the matter, and appropriate legal action has been initiated. The case is under investigation, and we request people to verify the authenticity of any such communication before responding or taking any action," a senior Lok Bhavan official said.
Following the complaint, the Kolkata Police Cyber Crime Cell registered a case and began an investigation. Police are reportedly examining the call detail records (CDRs) and tower location of the mobile number used in the impersonation attempt to identify the accused. Investigators are also contacting people who received the calls to determine the nature of the conversations and whether any attempt was made to seek confidential information or influence official decisions.
The Governor's Office advised government officials and the public to exercise caution and refrain from acting on unsolicited calls or messages claiming to originate from the Governor or Lok Bhavan without first verifying their authenticity through official communication channels. It also urged anyone receiving such calls or possessing information related to the impersonation to immediately inform Lok Bhavan and law enforcement authorities.
The incident has drawn attention to the growing threat of digital impersonation and social engineering , where fraudsters exploit the identity of constitutional authorities to gain credibility and manipulate victims. Cyber security experts note that such attacks often rely on human trust rather than technical vulnerabilities, making identity verification a critical safeguard.
The case also comes as West Bengal strengthens its cyber security infrastructure. The state recently rolled out 24x7 Cybercrime Help Desks across around 500 police stations to improve reporting and investigation of cyber offences.
Similar incidents have surfaced elsewhere in the country. In 2025 , the Uttar Pradesh Raj Bhavan lodged a cyber crime complaint after fraudsters allegedly misused the Governor's identity through a fake website to deceive people, highlighting an emerging pattern of cyber criminals targeting high constitutional offices.
Lok Bhavan , formerly known as Raj Bhavan , was renamed in 2025 as part of an initiative to adopt a more people-centric nomenclature. The heritage building, which has served as the official residence of the Governor since the colonial era, continues to function as the state's constitutional headquarters.