Government replaces DG NCCIA after Ducky Bhai wife files FIR

The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency has changed its Director General, Waqar-ud-Din Syed, following a major corruption scandal.

The government appointed Syed Khurram Ali, a Grade 21 officer previously serving under the Punjab Government, as the new DG NCCIA. Waqar-ud-Din Syed has been advised to report to the establishment division.

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has launched an investigation based on a complaint from Ducky Bhai’s wife against personnel within his own agency, leading to the arrest of several suspects. During the investigation, the FIA arrested Additional Director of the National Cyber Crime Agency, Sarfaraz Chaudhry, along with four other employees.

The FIR, registered at the FIA Anti-Corruption Circle in Lahore, reveals that certain agency members allegedly misused their authority and took illegal actions against the complainant by mishandling private information. The preliminary investigation indicates that Shoib Riaz, the Assistant Director of Investigation handling the Saad-ur-Rehman case (a.k.a. Ducky Bhai), accepted bribes totaling 90 lakhs to provide relief to the accused. This amount was given in both cheques and cash and was distributed among various officers.

Furthermore, the FIR states that the investigation officer received over $26 lakh from Ducky Bhai, which he transferred to his Binance account. According to the complainant’s written statement, officers from the Lahore National Cyber Crime Agency routinely took bribes from different call centers and engaged in other illegal activities. Accusations also suggest that bribe money was funneled to higher officials at the headquarters of the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency in Islamabad, with Deputy Director Muhammad Usman Tawatir receiving these funds.

The FIR accuses specific officials of operating a bribery network and abusing their power, and it was filed on behalf of YouTuber Ducky Bhai’s wife, Aroob Jatoi.