Aligarh, UP: In a dramatic turn of events, the Aligarh Police have arrested a man impersonating an IPS officer who allegedly extorted ₹10 lakh from a retired FCI employee by raiding his son’s clinic under the guise of a CID officer. The accused, identified as Smith Sethi, a resident of Nayapalli, Odisha, has over 10 criminal cases registered against him across five different states.
The Fraudulent Raid
The incident occurred in the Delhi Gate police station area, where Yogendra Prasad, father of orthopedic doctor Dr. Sachin Sachdev, was sitting at his son’s clinic — Sachdev Clinic in Jalalpur.
On September 6, 2025, Sethi entered the clinic, claiming to be a CID officer and accused them of running a fake clinic. Using threats and fear tactics, he extorted a total of ₹10 lakh, which included cash and possibly valuables, although the police later confirmed no jewelry was taken.
Tracking the Impostor
After a complaint was filed by the victim, local police accessed CCTV footage and tracked the accused. Acting on a tip, they located Sethi at a hotel in Vrindavan, where he had checked in using his Aadhaar card. The police eventually arrested him near the Barah Bigha Maidan.
During interrogation, he confessed to having only taken ₹5.5 lakh, not ₹10 lakh as initially claimed.
Donated the Money to Temples
A surprising twist in the investigation revealed that Sethi had donated a large portion of the extorted money—₹3.4 lakh—to religious institutions across multiple states. These included:
- ISKCON Temple
- Banke Bihari Temple, Vrindavan
- Balaji Temple, Vrindavan
- Khatu Shyam Temple, Rajasthan
- Pushkar Brahma Temple, Rajasthan
- Kela Devi Temple, Rajasthan
- Dwarkadhish Temple, Mathura
Only ₹2.1 lakh was recovered from the accused at the time of arrest.
Repeat Offender with High-Level Fraud Network
ASP and CO First, Mayank Pathak, stated in a press briefing that Sethi is a serial fraudster. He has previously served time in Telangana and Chhattisgarh, and is wanted in at least 10 cases across five states.
Police also uncovered that Sethi ran an educational institute in Kolkata, where he allegedly helped fake doctors obtain fraudulent medical degrees. He used this network to extract sensitive information and blackmail practicing doctors, posing as high-ranking law enforcement officers.
According to authorities, the accused owns properties worth crores and lived a lavish lifestyle financed through deceit.
Legal Action and Jail
Sethi was produced in court on Wednesday and has since been sent to jail. Further investigation is ongoing to trace his network of associates, additional victims, and the money trail of his temple donations.
