Cyber Criminals Planning to Extort USD 250 Million from Hetero by Impersonating USFDA Busted, 2 Held

Two accused, who allegedly impersonated a USFDA official, created fake email identities, and issued threats of regulatory action using fabricated documents, were arrested as part of the wider cybercrime crackdown carried out between 12 November and 18 November 2025. The extortion attempt, which involved false claims of possessing “confidential” and “damaging” information about Hetero and threats to trigger USFDA intervention, also led to an actual inspection by the agency, intensifying the risks faced by the company.

During the week-long enforcement activity, the Cybercrime Police detected 11 cybercrime cases and arrested 18 offenders across various states, uncovering the extensive reach of cybercriminal networks operating nationwide. Officials confirmed that 15 out of the 18 arrests were linked to Trading Fraud, marking it as the dominant modus operandi during the period. In total, eight cases involved trading fraud, two were related to impersonation fraud, and one case pertained to digital arrest fraud.

The police seized 17 mobile phones and four SIM cards from the arrested individuals. Additionally, Cyber Crime PS, Cyberabad secured 200 refund orders in 53 cases, ensuring that ₹6,32,3971 was returned to victims as per court directions. The detailed case data reflects the department’s ongoing efforts to clamp down on fraud, digital intimidation, and cross-border cyber operations.

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The most high-profile case involved two individuals who sent a series of anonymous and pseudonymous emails to a senior Hetero employee, demanding USD 250 million. The emails contained fabricated allegations of regulatory violations and threatened to forward the purported information to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (USFDA). According to the complaint, the accused falsely claimed the ability to “manage” the USFDA to induce fear of regulatory repercussions. The police said the perpetrators used fake email IDs, impersonated a USFDA official, shared forged documents, and used Signal – Private Messenger App to communicate, all in an attempt to coerce Hetero into paying the ransom.

Those arrested have been identified as Gadi Manikanta and Yendapalli Jessy Sudarshan. Officials noted that their actions caused significant reputational and regulatory risk to Hetero, especially after the bogus complaints triggered an actual USFDA inspection.

Issuing a public advisory, Cyberabad Police urged individuals, corporates, and business establishments to stay alert against cyber extortion, impersonation attempts, and circulation of fabricated regulatory documents. They advised citizens not to respond to suspicious emails, verify communications from government agencies, avoid sharing confidential data with unknown entities, preserve all electronic evidence, activate multi-factor authentication (MFA), and report cyber extortion attempts immediately to 1930 or www.cybercrime.gov.in