A 54-year-old man was arrested at Kalupur Railway Station in Ahmedabad after allegedly impersonating an Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, verbally abusing on-duty police personnel, and obstructing official duty, authorities confirmed on Thursday, 25 June. The accused, identified as John Daniel, a resident of Prahladnagar, Ahmedabad, was traced and detained within hours of the incident through a joint police operation.

How the Incident Unfolded

According to officials, the altercation occurred on the night of 22 June when Daniel, travelling in a taxi and subsequently moving through Kalupur Railway Station, got into a confrontation with personnel deployed for traffic management and station security. He allegedly questioned officers over their handling of traffic duties and used abusive language toward them.

When personnel attempted to de-escalate the situation, Daniel allegedly grew more aggressive. He reportedly introduced himself as an IPS officer, demanded to be saluted, and questioned why officers had not shown him the deference he claimed was due. He is then alleged to have pushed an officer in the chest with both hands, engaged in a physical scuffle, and pulled at the uniform of on-duty personnel before threatening to have them transferred.

What the Police Said

Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) Chetankumar Mundhwa, speaking at a press briefing, confirmed the sequence of events. 'He introduced himself as John Daniel and said he was an IPS officer, and threatened to transfer the officer. He then assaulted the police personnel,' Mundhwa said.

After the altercation, Daniel fled the scene. A case was subsequently registered at Ahmedabad Railway Police Station under Sections 132, 204, 296, and 351(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

How He Was Caught

A joint operation by the Local Crime Branch (LCB) of the Western Railway Ahmedabad unit and the Ahmedabad Railway Police traced and detained Daniel within hours, using CCTV footage and human intelligence inputs.

Police noted that Daniel is reportedly engaged in private employment and has an association with the Student Police Cadet (SPC) programme. He had also previously been linked to initiatives such as the Life Skill Foundation, which investigators believe gave him familiarity with police procedures and functioning — a background that may have informed his alleged false projection of authority.

Background and Investigation Status

Preliminary investigation has not revealed any prior criminal history for Daniel, though authorities said further inquiries are ongoing to verify all aspects of the case. Officials confirmed that legal proceedings are continuing. This case highlights a pattern of civilians leveraging peripheral exposure to law enforcement programmes to falsely claim official status — a concern that police-linked community initiatives may need to address through stricter credential controls.