Forgery, Luxury Amenities, and a Fake ID Unravel Elaborate Deception in Bandra, Mumbai
In a case straight out of a crime drama, the Mumbai Crime Branch arrested 32-year-old Chandramohan Prasad Rambali Singh from Bihar for impersonating an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer and unlawfully enjoying high-level privileges—despite never clearing the UPSC examination.
A native of Vaishali district, Singh had fraudulently assumed the identity of “Assistant Director (Security)” in the Ministry of Home Affairs, complete with government guesthouse lodging, a private driver, and forged credentials.
The Setup: Fraud Disguised as Authority
On June 28 at around 1 PM, Crime Branch officials constable Laxman Bagave and inspector Balasaheb Raut received a tip about a suspicious individual driving a white Swift Dzire with a “Government of India” number plate in Mumbai’s Malad area.
The officers intercepted the vehicle near Silver Oak Hotel in the Malad industrial estate and found Singh seated in the back. He displayed a fake ID card claiming to be an Assistant Director in the Home Ministry, with validity until 2028. However, irregularities in the card’s design sparked suspicion, and Singh was taken in for further questioning at the Dahisar Crime Branch unit.
The Confession: From Aspirant to Impostor
During interrogation, Singh confessed that he had moved to Delhi in 2017 to prepare for the Civil Services Examination but failed to pass. Meanwhile, his peers qualified for prestigious posts in the IAS and IRS, intensifying societal and familial pressure.
“To avoid embarrassment, he began falsely claiming in his village that he had become an IAS officer,” said a senior police official.
Seeking a getaway, Singh traveled to Mumbai for a brief three-day trip and—using a contact who was a legitimate government employee—secured accommodation at the Customs Guest House in Bandra East, a facility usually reserved for top officials.
He hired local driver Fardin Saifi (24), instructing him to chauffeur a “government officer” around the city. Saifi later testified that Singh had successfully shown the fake ID to traffic police near Dadar the previous day.
Uncovering the Tools of Deception
Upon searching Singh’s belongings, police recovered:
A fabricated government ID card
16 printed visiting cards
Two smartphones
Aadhaar card, PAN card, and driver’s license
A small amount of cash
The forged documents were professionally produced, with official emblems that could easily mislead authorities and the public alike.
Investigators are now probing whether Singh’s government contact knowingly participated in the fraud, and are reviewing vehicle ownership and booking records.
Legal Charges Filed
Singh has been booked under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including:
Section 204 – Impersonation of a public servant
Section 336(2) – Forgery
Section 336(3) – Creation of false documents
Section 340 – Use of forged documents as authentic
He has been remanded to police custody until July 3.
“He may not have extorted anyone yet, but impersonating an IAS officer and accessing restricted privileges is a serious offense,” said an investigating officer.
