Uttar Pradesh: Man posing as Oman diplomat arrested in Ghaziabad

The police have confirmed his credentials from the Oman Embassy

A man posing as the High Commissioner of Oman and receiving protocol like diplomats across Uttar Pradesh and other states was arrested by Kaushambi police on Thursday.

The accused has been identified as Krishna Shekhar Rana, 66, and reportedly hails from Amar Colony in Delhi.

Rana has been booked under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Trans Hindon DCP Nimish Patil told PTI.

Rana was posing as a diplomat using forged documents for personal gain. During his arrest at UP Gate in Ghaziabad, authorities recovered a Mercedes car, an identity card, and 46 visiting cards.

During interrogation, the accused said he was getting VIP security, police said, according to PTI.

Rana became a member of an NGO named India GCC Trade Council in 2024. He later took on the position of trade director at the NGO to facilitate and expand trade with foreign nations.

The police have confirmed his credentials from the Oman Embassy. According to DCP Patil, Rana was a professor of Zoology at Agra. He also owns Krishna College of Science and Technology in Agra and a resort in Rajasthan.

After retirement, the accused was the Appraisal Authority in the Union Environment Ministry from 2015 to 2018, where his job was to give environmental clearances.

The DCP said during interrogation, the accused claimed to be the vice chancellor of four universities. Kumaun University and Jaipur Technical University have confirmed his tenure to the police.

The police have not received a reply from Almora and Mewar. The police have not yet received a reply from the Environment Ministry either.