Lucknow: A young man impersonating an IAS officer was arrested near Shaheed Smarak, Lucknow, after police discovered red-blue flashing lights in his car and found him unable to justify his claims. The Wazirganj police registered a case and took the accused into custody for further investigation.
Impersonation Attempt Foiled at Checkpoint
During a routine vehicle check near Shaheed Smarak on Wednesday morning, police officers found a suspicious convoy of six vehicles. On stopping one car, the driver was behind the wheel, but the accused, later identified as Saurabh Tripathi, was sitting in the back seat. When questioned, Tripathi claimed to be an IAS officer and produced a fake visiting card in an attempt to intimidate the police.
Discovery of Red-Blue Lights Triggers Suspicion
Police officers noticed red and blue flashing lights installed in the car — a feature commonly used by official vehicles of high-ranking government officials. This discovery led to a thorough search of the vehicle, where fake ID cards, secretariat passes, and forged vehicle documents were recovered. Unable to provide credible explanations, Tripathi was arrested on the spot.
Identity and Background of the Accused
Saurabh Tripathi, a resident of Sarai Lakhansi in Mau district, also maintains residences in Garima Vihar, Noida Sector-35, and Gomti Nagar Extension in Lucknow. Police officials revealed that Tripathi has been active on social media under various aliases, falsely portraying himself as a Cabinet Special Secretary of the Government of India and Secretary of Urban-Rural Development, Uttar Pradesh.
Extensive Deception and Fake Government Engagements
Investigations have shown that Tripathi attended several government functions, leveraging his fake identity to mingle with senior officials and even getting photographs clicked to reinforce his fraudulent persona. Reports indicate he has used this fake status not only within Uttar Pradesh but also in other states, falsely availing government protocol and privileges.
Police Interrogation Underway; Links to Previous Fraud Cases
Wazirganj police are currently interrogating Tripathi to uncover the full extent of his network and possible accomplices. This case echoes a recent police action in Noida, where a fake international police station operating under the name “International Police and Crime Investigation Bureau” was busted. Six people were arrested there for impersonating foreign police officers.
Statement from Police Officials
Inspector Rajesh Kumar Tripathi, leading the investigation, said, “The accused was threatening and trying to deceive officers initially but failed due to the strict vigilance of the police team. We recovered multiple forged documents from him and are probing further to uncover more details.”
What’s Next?
Authorities are keen to understand the depth of Tripathi’s fraud and whether any government officials or other individuals were involved. The incident raises concerns about the verification processes at government events and the extent of impersonation scams in the region.
