Hetero Pharma faces cyber extortion threat from anonymous emails

HYDERABAD: Police in Cyberabad have launched an investigation after Hetero Group of Companies reported receiving a series of anonymous emails threatening to leak allegedly “damaging” information about the firm unless a ransom was paid.

Hetero HR VP lodges complaint

According to a complaint filed by Dr S V Jaipal Reddy, Vice-President (Human Resources) of Hetero Group. A senior employee had been receiving multiple anonymous emails over the past fortnight. The messages demanded a ransom amount and also claimed possession of sensitive internal data related to the company’s operations and regulatory compliance.

Dr Reddy stated that the sender threatened to forward the purported information — described by the company as “false, manipulated or fabricated” — to the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) if the demand was not met. The sender also claimed to “manage” the USFDA, giving the extortion attempt an international dimension.

Case registered under Cyberabad Police limits

Following directions from the Commissioner of Police, Cyberabad, the Raidurgam police station re-registered the case (Crime No. 1039/2025) on October 9, 2025, and began an investigation. The CD file was earlier received through the Commissioner’s office vide memo C No. 406/C2/CD-File/Cyb/2025, dated October 7, 2025.

The complaint described the act as a deliberate attempt to malign the reputation of Hetero, a leading Indian pharmaceutical firm founded by Dr Bandi Parthasaradhi Reddy, with operations in more than 140 countries and employing nearly 40,000 people.

The complaint stated that“The threats are not against any individual but against a globally reputed Indian company and an attempt to damage its credibility.”

Probe under way into cyber extortion

Police said preliminary inquiries suggest that the communication originated from unidentified sources using pseudonymous email IDs. Technical experts are assisting in tracing the digital footprint of the sender.

Investigators are examining whether the incident amounts to cyber extortion, criminal intimidation, and threat to reputation, under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code(IPC) and the Information Technology Act(IT Act)