Hyderabad

Police misbehave with Telugu woman journalist who tried to file a cybercrime plaint

The Zee Telugu journalist's WhatsApp account was hacked and cybercriminals extorted around Rs 4 lakh from her family and friends.

Hyderabad: Hyderabad cybercrime officials, on Sunday, November 23, allegedly misbehaved with a female journalist working at Zee Telugu when she went to complain.

The journalist’s father had recently undergone surgery. After hacking her WhatsApp account, the cybercriminals contacted her relatives and friends, asking for money. Believing the request was genuine, they transferred around Rs 4 lakhs through online UPI payment.

Once she realised what had happened, the journalist approached the cybercrime police station to lodge a complaint.

When she reached the station, police officers refused to register her complaint, saying only those who had lost money could file it. When the journalist questioned this, the officials spoke condescendingly, saying such cases are common and “suggested” she should put up a WhatsApp status saying her account was hacked.

When the journalists insisted, the officers brushed her off, saying it was Sunday and she can call 1930 to lodge her complaint.

Soon, an argument ensued between her and the officers. Her husband, who was with her at the station, began recording the interaction. A male constable snatched his phone.

The couple then staged a protest, prompting senior officers to intervene and resolve the issue amicably. A complaint was registered.

This post was last modified on November 24, 2025 4:41 pm

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Veena Nair

Veena Nair is the Online Editor at Siasat.com, where she primarily reports on religious and community-based hate crimes across India. She holds a degree from Sathyabama University, Chennai, and began her career as a software professional before pursuing a Postgraduate Diploma in Broadcast Journalism from the Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media (IIJNM), Bengaluru. Before joining Siasat.com, Veena worked as a sub-editor at The New Indian Express in Coimbatore. Outside of journalism, she has a strong interest in theatre and has performed as an improv theatre artist in both Hyderabad and Bengaluru. A passionate observer of people, she is also a movie and music enthusiast, and a devoted cat mom

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