Is a Conman Posing as a Fake AIS Officer Arrested in Hyderabad?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Stay informed: Awareness of fraud tactics can protect you.
- Report suspicious behavior: Notify authorities about any unusual activities.
- Verify identities: Always confirm the credentials of individuals claiming to be officials.
- Be cautious: If something seems too good to be true, it probably is.
- Community vigilance: Together, we can prevent scams.
Hyderabad, Nov 26 (NationPress) A con artist, who deceived individuals by impersonating an All India Service official and even engaged two armed bodyguards, has been apprehended by the police in Hyderabad.
According to law enforcement, the suspect Bathini Shashikanth had been defrauding victims for more than two years by masquerading as an IAS or IPS officer.
He had gone to the extent of hiring two armed bodyguards from Tamil Nadu, outfitting his vehicle with a police siren, and utilizing walkie-talkies to convince victims that he was a high-ranking government official.
The 39-year-old was implicated in numerous criminal activities, including impersonating senior government officials, fraud, forgery, criminal intimidation, and extortion.
This individual misled the public for over two years by posing as an IAS Officer in the role of Deputy Commissioner of Mines, and at times, as an IPS/NIA officer, extorting substantial sums from his victims.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Ch. Srinivas informed the media that, acting on reliable information, the Film Nagar police executed a rapid operation and arrested the suspect at his temporary residence in Shaikpet.
The police took action following a complaint from Ali Hassan, managing director of a gym, who reported that the suspect had collected Rs 10.50 lakh from him under the pretense of aiding in acquiring industrial land and providing other official favors, only to flee after taking the money.
Authorities confiscated two mobile devices, six SIM cards, two walkie-talkies, and counterfeit identification cards from the suspect.
He had fabricated fake IAS/IPS/NIA identification cards, visiting cards, and other forged documents. Additionally, he employed two bodyguards with weapons from Tamil Nadu to present himself as a senior government official.
He had attached police sirens to a private vehicle and used walkie-talkies to simulate official communications. The accused was also distributing a forged industrial land allotment letter purportedly from the Telangana State Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (TSIIC) to defraud victims.
According to the DCP, Praveen and Vimal, who served as personal bodyguards for the suspect, are currently evading capture.
The police have urged citizens to stay vigilant, refrain from trusting such individuals or entities, and report any suspicious activities to law enforcement to help prevent such crimes.