Daudnagar, Aurangabad: In a major crackdown on fraud, Daudnagar police have arrested Rajesh Shukla, a 53-year-old resident of Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, who impersonated an Indian Police Service (IPS) officer to extort money from unsuspecting victims. The accused was demanding ₹1.20 lakh from local businessman Rakesh Kumar, owner of Aditya Saree Mahal.
Fraud Exposed After Victim Reports Extortion
The case came to light when Rakesh Kumar, a resident of Chhattar Darwaza, reported that a man posing as an IPS officer was threatening him near his business premises at the Chawal Bazaar area. Fearing for his safety, Kumar had already transferred ₹47,000 online to the accused before approaching the police.
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Special Team Formed for Immediate Action
Upon receiving the complaint, the Superintendent of Police (SP) directed SDPO Ashok Kumar Das to form a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to apprehend the fraudster. Police quickly reached the spot and took the accused into custody, verifying his identity.
During investigation, it was revealed that Rajesh Shukla had been impersonating an IPS officer for multiple scams, using fear and intimidation to extort money from businesses and individuals.
Fake Documents and Props Recovered
Police recovered several fake and incriminating items from the accused, including:
- Four fake IPS identity cards
- Fake NIA and CIA ID cards
- A T-shirt with his name and “NIA” printed on the back
- Two khaki-colored police caps
- Fake letters from political parties, human rights organizations, and a whistleblower ID
These props were reportedly used by Shukla to create confusion and convince victims of his fake authority.
Legal Action and Court Proceedings
A First Information Report (FIR) has been registered against Rajesh Shukla at Daudnagar Police Station. He was sent to judicial custody on Friday evening and remanded to jail. Police noted that the accused was wearing a gold chain worth several lakhs at the time of arrest.
The SIT team included Sub-Inspectors Parmanand Kumar Yadav, Abhishek Kumar, Sudesh Kumar, and Vicky Kumar, who played a key role in the successful apprehension.
Police Advisory
The Daudnagar police have urged citizens to verify the credentials of anyone claiming to be an IPS or government official before making any payments. They also emphasized reporting suspicious activity immediately to prevent fraud.
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