Engineering grad arrested for posing as IAS officer in Lucknow

The accused was identified as Saurabh Tripathi, originally from Mau district and currently residing at Shalimar One World apartments in Gomti Nagar Extension.

A 36-year-old engineering graduate was arrested by Wazirganj police on Wednesday for posing as a fake IAS officer.

The accused was identified as Saurabh Tripathi, originally from Mau district and currently residing at Shalimar One World apartments in Gomti Nagar Extension. He was caught during a routine vehicle check near Kargil Park.

According to a report by The Times of India, Tripathi, who appeared for the UPSC Civil Services Examination twice but failed to qualify, was living a double life by posing as a high-ranking official of both the Uttar Pradesh government and the Centre while using high-end cars and armed guards.

During checking when the police intercepted his vehicle, Tripathi introduced himself as an IAS officer, flashed a forged identity card and visiting card, and attempted to intimidate officers by dropping names of senior bureaucrats.

On searching his residence, police seized six luxury vehicles, including a Range Rover Defender, Mercedes Benz, and three Toyota Innova cars, the report added. All cars were fitted with red/blue beacons and carried fake Secretariat passes and forged number plates. As per the report, one Innova car even bore the plate of a “Joint Secretary, Government of India.”

Besides this, a laptop, several forged documents, multiple fake IDs, Aadhaar card and driving licences with mismatched details, beacon lights, Rs 11,097 in cash, debit cards, and visiting cards of various designations were also recovered from his possession. Investigators revealed that Tripathi even created a fake NIC email ID to strengthen his masquerade.

The police were quoted by TOI as saying that Tripathi projected himself as a senior bureaucrat online, presenting himself as “Cabinet Special Secretary, Government of India” in one profile and “Secretary, Urban-Rural Development, UP” in another.

As per the report, to build credibility, Tripathi frequently attended official events, mingled with officers, and posed for photographs with top bureaucrats.

“Tripathi used forged passes and IDs to enjoy govt protocol privileges, extract money, and gain access to facilities in multiple states,” SHO Wazirganj Rajesh Kumar Tripathi was quoted by TOI as saying.

“Unable to crack the exam, he decided to impersonate what he could not become,” a senior officer was quoted by TOI as saying. A case was registered under multiple BNS sections and the IT Act at Wazirganj police station.