Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s official X social media account was compromised on Sunday, with hackers streaming visuals bearing the national flags of Pakistan and Turkey.
An official from the Deputy CM’s office said they immediately informed the cyber-crime team. “We alerted the cyber-crime unit immediately. The team handling the Deputy CM’s handle managed to retrieve control in about 30 to 45 minutes,” the official said.
Raising concerns over cyber security in Maharashtra, former State Congress president Nana Patole said the breach was “shocking” and demanded answers from the Home Department. “Today, a shocking incident took place in which the X account of the State’s Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde was hacked. If the social media accounts of such important Ministers in the State cannot be secured, then what about the cyber security of the common citizens? This question will definitely be asked by the Gen-Z generation of Maharashtra today.”
He added, “The hacking of the Deputy Chief Minister’s account raises a big question mark on the security of the State’s Home Department. Who will take responsibility for this? What concrete mechanism does the government have for the cyber protection of citizens? The Home Department should give a clear answer to this.”
