Mumbai: In a dramatic arrest reminiscent of a Bollywood con thriller, the Mumbai Crime Branch apprehended a 32-year-old man from Bihar for impersonating an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer and enjoying state-level privileges without ever having cleared the UPSC examination.
The accused, Chandramohan Prasad Rambali Singh, a resident of Vaishali district in Bihar, had embedded himself into the bureaucratic lifestyle, complete with government lodging, a private driver, and a forged ID card claiming to be an “Assistant Director (Security)” in the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Fake Officer, Real Benefits: How It All Unfolded
On June 28 at around 1pm, constable Laxman Bagave and inspector Balasaheb Raut of Dahisar Crime Branch Unit 12 were on routine patrol when they received a tip-off about a suspicious individual driving a white Swift Dzire with a “Government of India” plate in Malad.
Acting swiftly, the team intercepted the vehicle near Silver Oak Hotel in Malad’s industrial estate. Inside, they found Singh calmly seated in the backseat. He confidently flashed a fake government ID card and introduced himself as an Assistant Director posted with the Ministry of Home Affairs—valid until 2028.
However, inconsistencies in the ID card raised immediate suspicion. Singh was promptly taken to the Dahisar Crime Branch office for interrogation.
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Cracking Under Pressure: The Truth Behind the Lie
Under sustained questioning, Singh admitted that he moved to Delhi in 2017 to prepare for the Civil Services Examination. Despite his efforts, he failed to clear the exam. Meanwhile, his friends succeeded and joined prestigious services like the IAS and IRS in 2022, which further increased pressure from his family and community.
“In a desperate bid to save face,” said a senior official, “he began telling people in his village that he too had cracked the exam and was now an IAS officer.”
But Singh’s deception extended far beyond home. Seeking a break, he came to Mumbai for a three-day visit, using a contact—an actual government employee—to secure accommodation at the Customs Department’s Guest House in Bandra East, usually reserved for senior officials.
He hired a local driver, 24-year-old Fardin Saifi, instructing him to drive a “government officer” around the city. Saifi even told investigators that Singh had successfully shown the fake ID to Mumbai traffic police the previous day near Dadar.
Tools of the Trade: What Police Found
Upon searching Singh’s possessions, police recovered:
- A self-designed fake government ID card
- 16 visiting cards
- Two mobile phones
- An Aadhaar card, PAN card, and driving licence
A small amount of cash
The forged documents were professionally printed and bore official-looking insignias, enough to convince most civilians—and even some officials.
Police are now investigating how Singh managed to sustain the impersonation and whether his civil services contact knowingly assisted in the fraud. The car’s ownership and booking details are also under scrutiny.
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Legal Action and Charges
Singh has been booked under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for:
- Section 204 – Impersonating a public servant
- Section 336(2) – Forgery
- Section 336(3) – Making a false document
- Section 340 – Using a forged document as genuine
- He has been remanded in police custody till July 3.
“So far, he hasn’t cheated anyone financially—but walking around Mumbai pretending to be an IAS officer with a fake ID is no small fraud either,” an officer commented.
