Scam Call Offering Ministerial Post for Rs 3 Cr, says Kerala MLA

Elathur MLA Vidya Balakrishnan has lodged a complaint with the Kozhikode Cyber Cell after allegedly receiving a WhatsApp call from a person claiming to be from Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi's office, offering to secure her a ministerial post in exchange for Rs 3 crore. 

According to the MLA, the call was received on July 6. The caller, speaking in Hindi, claimed that a Cabinet reshuffle in Kerala was imminent and that several ministers would be replaced. 

He allegedly told Vidya Balakrishnan that she had a chance of becoming a minister and that the appointment could be



"arranged" if she paid Rs 3 crore.

The caller also reportedly referred to another MP from Kozhikode district to lend credibility to the claim. Growing suspicious, Vidya Balakrishnan contacted the MP mentioned by the caller. 

The MP reportedly told her that someone claiming to be from the AICC headquarters had earlier contacted him seeking the phone numbers of two MLAs, but denied having any knowledge of the alleged offer. 

Realising it was likely an attempt at fraud, the MLA filed a complaint with the Kozhikode Cyber Cell on July 11.