Businessman Arrested for Impersonating NCP Leader to Scam Money from Qatar Royals

Rahul Kant, a businessman from Mumbai, created a fake WhatsApp account using the name and photo of NCP leader Praful Patel, targeting people abroad, including Qatar's royal family, to solicit money. He has been detained by Maharashtra Cyber police following an investigation initiated by a complaint from Patel's aide.

In a shocking revelation, a Mumbai-based businessman named Rahul Kant has been detained for allegedly creating a fake WhatsApp account using the name and photo of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Praful Patel.

Kant, a resident of Juhu, targeted people abroad, including members of Qatar's royal family, to demand money. The NCP leader's mobile phone number had been obtained from a paid application, officials said.

The scam came to light when Patel's aide, Vivek Agnihotri, lodged a complaint with the Maharashtra Cyber police on July 23. Following an investigation, cyber unit officials tracked and detained Kant in Juhu. Kant reportedly resorted to this scheme due to financial troubles.

(With inputs from agencies.)