Hajipur: A resident of Hajipur’s Harman Colony (Ward No. 20), Aslam Ahmed, was arrested on Monday for impersonating an Indian Police Service (IPS) officer and allegedly extorting money from government employees. The arrest follows multiple complaints from the Phulwarisharif police station area regarding his fraudulent activities.
Fraudulent Activities and Modus Operandi
According to Patna SSP Kartikeya K Sharma and City SP (West) Bhanu Pratap Singh, Ahmed had been active in the area for over a month. He allegedly sent threatening emails to officials involved in land measurement, pressuring them to comply with his demands. Police reports suggest he intimidated at least seven individuals and extorted money from some victims.
Investigations revealed that Ahmed used a fake email ID — [email protected] — created to impersonate the Additional Director General (ADG) of Police. The email account also displayed the Bihar Police logo, lending credibility to his fraudulent claims.
“He claimed to be an employee of the ADG’s office and contacted government staff, particularly land surveyors (amins), threatening action if they did not follow his instructions,” said SP Singh. “He pressured officials to favour certain parties in land disputes and extorted money from unsuspecting individuals.”
Investigation and Evidence
During the probe, police recovered a high-end cellphone and a laptop linked to Ahmed, which contained evidence of his impersonation and fraudulent communications. Authorities are now interrogating him to uncover details about his network and identify other possible accomplices. They are also investigating the total number of victims and the extent of financial fraud committed.
Police Advisory and Public Alert
This incident underscores the growing concern of impersonation of law enforcement officers. Police officials have urged government employees and the public to verify the identity of individuals claiming to represent authorities and to report suspicious activities immediately. Enhanced cybersecurity measures and vigilance are being emphasized to prevent misuse of official logos and email addresses in such scams.
Conclusion
Aslam Ahmed’s arrest highlights the need for increased awareness and preventive measures against fraud and impersonation. Authorities continue to investigate the case to ensure that similar incidents do not recur and to bring all perpetrators to justice.
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