In a significant development in India’s fight against cybercrime, Gurugram police have filed an FIR against WhatsApp directors and nodal officers for their alleged refusal to cooperate in a ₹4 crore fraud investigation. The case, filed at the Cyber Crime East police station, accuses WhatsApp of obstructing justice by withholding information crucial to the investigation.
The investigation, which began in May this year, centers around a fraud complaint filed by The Commodity Hub. The company alleged that ₹4 crore were illicitly transferred from their bank account to four separate accounts without the knowledge of their top officials. While ten individuals linked to the alleged fraud have been arrested, the police investigation faced a major hurdle in the form of WhatsApp’s uncooperative stance.
Despite multiple requests for information on the four mobile numbers suspected to be involved in the fraud, WhatsApp officials remained unresponsive for two months. The Gurugram Police, in a statement, highlighted that WhatsApp’s inaction violates their legal obligation to provide information under Indian law.
The police argue that WhatsApp’s non-cooperation amounts to aiding the accused individuals by hindering the investigation. The FIR filed against WhatsApp’s directors and nodal officers includes sections 223(A), 241, 249(C) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Information Technology Act.
This incident underlines the growing tension between law enforcement agencies and tech giants regarding data access and cooperation. While tech companies often cite privacy concerns as the reason for withholding information, law enforcement agencies argue that these concerns must be balanced against the need to ensure justice and public safety. The case is expected to set a precedent for future investigations involving tech companies and their role in aiding cybercrime investigations in India.
