Scores of on-line criminals continue to harass B-Town celebrities, but looks like the cyber cell is still not equipped to bring the perpetrators to book
Mona Singh
In today's digital age where technology has become an indispensable part of our lives, its pitfalls are inescapable too. Instances where email accounts are hacked into are commonplace now, ditto for fake MMSes doing the rounds.
ADVERTISEMENT
Bollywood celebs are not immune to hackers’ tricks either. A recent instance would be that of Bollywood designer Ana Singh, whose email account was hacked into on Tuesday. The hacker apparently sent out mails requesting people on her contact list to send her 1,300 euros.
The distraught designer then posted a statement on a social networking site where she clarified that her gmail account was hacked into. "My account is hacked, ignore all mails," her post read. She has now filed a police complaint.
Ana is among scores of B-town celebs, who have been unwitting victims of cyber crime. While some hackers sent mails from celeb accounts pleading for financial help, others have sent out calls for fake auditions. Interestingly, many cases have not yet been solved.
When contacted, a senior police official from the cyber cell said, "We have solved a lot of cyber crime cases plaguing the film and television industry. For example, the person who hacked into Sayal Bhagat’s email account was arrested in Delhi. Similarly, Javed Akhtar filed a complaint about receiving nasty mails from an unidentified person and his case was also solved. Often, celebs are averse to filing complaints; they should make an official complaint and we will make sure that their cases are solved."
hitlist takes a look at celebs who have fallen prey to cyber crime in recent times.
Mona Singh
Year of crime: 2013
Status: Not solved
Television actress Mona Singh, who has starred in many TV shows and films, was also a victim of cyber crime last year. An MMS clip allegedly featuring her went viral overnight. The clip apparently showed Mona walking around the house without her clothes on. The actress then issued a statement that it wasn’t her in the video and that her face had been morphed. She filed a complaint but the culprit/s has/have not been found yet.
Ranveer Singh
Year of crime: 2013
Status: Not solved
The Ramleela actor too fell victim to an online hoax last year. He was not even aware of it till his friends called him up and informed him about how emails sent from his account asked them to send him images of bikini-clad models and actors. Following this incident, Ranveer Singh filed a complaint at the cyber cell and the case is yet to be solved.
Siddharth Roy Kapur
Year of crime: 2013
Status: Not solved
Siddharth Roy Kapur, Managing Director, Disney UTV, was also under attack by hackers, who sent out emails from his account asking people to send him scantily clad images of aspiring actresses and models. After this came to light last year, Siddharth approached the cyber crime cell, but no action has been taken against anyone as of now.
Ekta Kapoor
Year of crime: 2012
Status: Not solved
TV czarina, Ekta Kapoor, encountered a similar situation two years ago when hackers bombarded her friends’ inboxes asking money to the tune of R15,000 in return for an audition with her production house.
Shekhar Kapur
Year of crime: 2013
Status: Not solved
His e-mail account was hacked last year. The harrowed filmmaker then warned his friends to not open e-mails sent from his account.
Arbaaz Khan
Year of crime: 2011
Status: Not solved
Producer Arbaaz Khan’s email account was hacked twice in the same week. He filed a complaint with the cyber crime cell, but no arrests have been made.
Sayali Bhagat
Year of crime: 2011
Status: Solved
Sayali Bhagat faced a tough time when it emerged that someone had hacked into her twitter account and openly accused industry stalwarts of promising her roles in return for sexual favours. After the actress filed a complaint, the police zeroed in on Sayali’s PR manager and he was then arrested.
Mukesh Chhabra
Year of crime: 2013
Status: Not solved
Leading casting director Mukesh Chhabra’s account was hacked recently and the hacker sent out e-mails to well known actors asking them to audition for his latest film. Chhabra filed a complaint with the cyber cell but no action has been taken so far.
(With inputs from Bharati Dubey)
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
