New Delhi: Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction) leader Supriya Sule revealed on Monday that she was the target of a cyberattack, where hackers gained unauthorized access to her WhatsApp account and demanded a ransom of $400. The incident has raised concerns about cybersecurity among political leaders.Hackers demand ransom from NCP leadersSupriya Sule, who represents Baramati in the Lok Sabha, shared that the hackers attempted to extort her team by sending a message demanding the payment. In a related incident, NCP General Secretary Aditi Nalawades WhatsApp account was also compromised, with hackers demanding ₹10,000. To gather more information, Sules team engaged with the hackers, who even provided bank account details for the ransom transfer.Urgent warning issued by SuleOn Sunday, Sule took to social media to alert her followers and associates about the breach. Urgent: My phone and WhatsApp have been hacked. Please do not call or text me. I have reached out to the police for help, she announced on X (formerly Twitter). Her urgent plea emphasized the gravity of the situation, urging the public to avoid any communication with her via the compromised channels.Police investigation underwayFollowing the hack, Sule filed an official complaint at the Yavat police station. She also spoke directly with Pankaj Deshmukh, the Superintendent of Police, who assured her that a thorough investigation would be conducted to identify and apprehend those responsible for the cyberattack. Sule expressed the seriousness of the situation but maintained that she had nothing to hide on her phone, underscoring her transparency and cooperation with law enforcement. The incident has highlighted the increasing vulnerability of political figures to cybercrimes and the importance of stringent cybersecurity measures.
