Panic briefly gripped the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) in Mussoorie—India’s premier training institute for civil servants—after a young man reported for civil services training on the basis of a forged UPSC selection letter. Swift verification by the academy exposed the fraud, prompting immediate police action and a wider investigation.
According to officials, the individual has been identified as Pushpesh Singh, a resident of Saran district in Bihar, who is currently employed with a private firm in Gurugram. Preliminary investigations have revealed that Singh himself was a victim of an organised scam that exploited his aspirations to join the civil services.
Fake Result Sent on WhatsApp
Police officials said Pushpesh Singh claimed he came in contact with a group of individuals in Gurugram who promised to help him clear the Civil Services Examination and interview. Trusting their assurances, Singh paid them a total of ₹27,564 in two instalments—₹13,000 in cash and ₹14,564 through UPI transactions.
After receiving the money, the accused allegedly sent him a forged UPSC result and selection letter via WhatsApp, declaring him successful and instructing him to report to LBSNAA, Mussoorie, for training.
Believing the documents to be genuine, Singh travelled to Mussoorie along with his parents, carrying essential belongings, and presented himself at the academy to formally join the training programme.
Verification Raises Alarm at Academy
When Singh reported at LBSNAA, academy officials found discrepancies in the documents submitted by him. During routine verification, it became evident that the selection letter and result were fake and did not match official UPSC records.
Recognising the seriousness and sensitivity of the matter, the academy administration immediately informed the Mussoorie police.
Senior police officers promptly reached the campus, and given the national importance of the institution, teams from the Local Intelligence Unit (LIU), Mussoorie, and the Intelligence Bureau (IB) were also deployed. Singh was questioned in detail, and investigators recorded his statement to understand the sequence of events and identify the individuals behind the scam.
Zero FIR Registered, Case Transferred to Gurugram
Based on Singh’s complaint, the police registered a Zero FIR under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), covering offences related to cheating, forgery, and fraud. Since the alleged scam was executed in Gurugram, Haryana, the case has been formally transferred there for further investigation.
Police officials said efforts are now underway to trace the accused persons using digital payment trails, WhatsApp communication records, and other technical evidence.
The incident has once again highlighted how civil service aspirants are being targeted by fraudsters offering guaranteed selection through illegal means.
