Mumbai: Two arrested for fraud in the name of fake letter of Prime Minister
Maharashtra: The Mumbai Police’s Anti-Extortion Cell has arrested two people for allegedly trying to extort ₹4 lakh using a fake letter attributed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The arrested accused have been identified as Tousif Hussain Ismail Patel (44), an advertising professional with Target Media, and Siddhinath Dinanath Pandey alias Sunil (43). Both accused were produced at Esplanade Court, where they were remanded to three-day police custody.
According to the police, the accused convinced the complainant that they could issue a birthday greeting letter from the Prime Minister’s Office, in exchange for ₹4 lakh. The complainant, who runs an NGO called “Mega Shreya” and has been working with needy children, old age homes, and orphanages since 2020, fell for the offer.
The incident began in 2022 when the complainant came in contact with accused Tausif Patel and his partner Farnaz Wadia at a social event. Posing as journalists, the accused frequently exchanged information and updates about the complainant’s NGO’s work via WhatsApp. On March 18, Patel demanded ₹4 lakh from the complainant via WhatsApp voice note, claiming that payment would result in an official letter from the Prime Minister.
The complainant initially believed this claim to be fake, but the accused continued to insist that the letter was genuine and that the money would be paid as a “PR charge.”
Police stated that upon receiving the complaint, the Anti-Extortion Cell immediately launched an investigation and arrested the accused on April 4, 2026, at around 7:30 p.m. Both accused reside in Ganesh Building, Shastri Nagar, Goregaon (West) area of Mumbai. Police suspect that the accused may have been defrauding many other individuals using similar schemes.
Lawyer Birendra Yadav appeared on behalf of the accused at Esplanade Court and argued their case. Police stated that further investigations are ongoing and the accused will be questioned about other potential victims.
Police have warned citizens not to trust anyone demanding money in the name of the Prime Minister’s Office or any government institution. In such cases, they should immediately inform the local police or the anti-extortion cell.
Following the arrest, the complainant has breathed a sigh of relief and said they can now focus on the work of their NGO. Police stated that strict action will be taken against the accused under the fraud and anti-extortion laws.
