Impostor in Uniform: ‘Mooli Devi’ or 'Mona Bugalia' cons Rajasthan Police Academy for two years

A woman has been arrested for impersonating a police sub-inspector and infiltrating the Rajasthan Police Academy (RPA), where she reportedly spent nearly two years attending training sessions, wearing police uniforms, and posing with senior officials.

The accused, Mona Bugalia, also known as Mooli, was apprehended earlier this week in Rajasthan’s Sikar district. She had been absconding since 2023 after a complaint was filed against her in Jaipur, officials said.

Police say Bugalia entered the state’s premier police training institute without ever qualifying for the sub-inspector recruitment exam. A search of her rented residence revealed Rs 7 lakh in cash, three police uniforms, forged documents, and training papers from the RPA.

Originally from Nimba Ke Bas village in Nagaur district, Bugalia is the daughter of a truck driver. She reportedly failed to clear the sub-inspector recruitment exam in 2021. Police said she forged documents under the alias 'Mooli Devi', and falsely claimed on social media that she had been selected as a sub-inspector.

She also joined a WhatsApp group exclusively for official recruits and arrived at the RPA claiming to be from a previous batch, supposedly admitted under the sports quota.

For nearly two years, Mona Bugalia maintained a visible presence at the Rajasthan Police Academy (RPA), frequently appearing in full police uniform at the parade grounds. She actively took part in outdoor drills, posed alongside senior officers for photographs, and shared motivational videos and content on social media, successfully portraying herself as an official sub-inspector.

She even addressed a public gathering from a stage while dressed in uniform in one such instance, delivering career guidance to young aspirants. Images from the event show her standing beside high-ranking police officials, including IPS officers.

Despite the RPA’s tight security, Bugalia is believed to have accessed restricted outdoor training areas without raising suspicion. Her elaborate ruse began to fall apart when a few trainee sub-inspectors started questioning her identity. The matter was escalated to senior authorities, who launched an internal probe.

During interrogation, Bugalia admitted to fabricating her identity. She revealed that her primary motivations were to gain admiration from her family—particularly her four sisters—and to benefit from the perceived authority and privileges of a police officer.

The case has sparked sharp criticism from activists. Social activist Vijay Kumbhar described the incident as a sign of deeper institutional failure, calling it a reflection of “systemic rot.”