Fake cop arrested in Mumbai's Bandra after confronting traffic police
Synopsis
A car mechanic in Mumbai's Bandra was arrested after allegedly placing a blue police cap on his dashboard to impersonate a law enforcement officer — a ruse that unravelled when he picked a confrontation with traffic police who arrived to tow his numberplate-less vehicle.
Key Takeaways
Fahad Farid Khan , 37 , a car mechanic from Bandra West , was arrested on 3 October 2026 for impersonating a police officer.
A white car without a number plate and a blue police cap were seized from the accused.
The accused allegedly used the police cap on his dashboard to intimidate traffic police and members of the public.
Traffic Police Constable Anil Koli and Bandra Police Constables Nikhilesh Hanumant Sable and Sangve were key to the arrest.
Police are investigating how Khan obtained the vehicle and whether the impersonation was used in prior incidents.
Bandra Police have arrested a 37-year-old car mechanic for allegedly impersonating a police officer in Mumbai's Bandra area on 3 October 2026, after he was caught intimidating traffic personnel during a vehicle towing operation. A white car without a number plate and a blue police cap were seized from the accused, identified as Fahad Farid Khan, a resident of Bandra West.
How the Incident Unfolded
Constables Nikhilesh Hanumant Sable and Sangve, posted at Bandra Police Station, were on patrol along Dr. V. Raghunath Marg when they spotted a suspicious white car parked outside the White House building. The vehicle had no number plate and all its windows were covered. A blue police cap was visible on the front dashboard.
Since the car was locked from inside, Constable Sable alerted the Bandra Traffic Department. Traffic Police Constable Anil Koli arrived at the scene with a towing van at around 7.40 pm and initiated the towing process.
Confrontation and Arrest
As the towing operation got underway, a man — later identified as Khan — arrived at the spot and allegedly began misbehaving with traffic police personnel and towing staff. A woman also stepped out of the vehicle during the confrontation. When questioned about the police cap and the numberplate-less vehicle, Khan allegedly gave vague answers and could not produce any documents related to the car.
Police determined he held no official law enforcement position. Khan was subsequently arrested and a formal case registered against him.
How He Allegedly Used the Disguise
According to investigators, Khan reportedly placed the blue police cap on the dashboard to create the impression that the vehicle belonged to a police officer — apparently to deter traffic police and members of the public from questioning him or the vehicle. The tactic, if confirmed, is a familiar one in urban crime: the visible presence of police insignia or headgear can discourage scrutiny without any verbal claim being made.
What Investigators Are Probing
Police said the investigation is ongoing to establish how Khan obtained the vehicle and uncover any further details about his activities. The origin of the blue police cap is also under examination. Bandra Police have not ruled out the possibility that the impersonation may have been used in other incidents prior to this arrest.
Point of View
It is difficult to pre-empt. Khan's arrest underscores a systemic gap: the visual symbols of police authority are easy to acquire and harder to verify, especially for ordinary citizens. Mumbai Police would do well to treat this not as an isolated case but as a prompt to audit how widely police insignia circulate outside official channels. The ongoing probe into the vehicle's origin may reveal a wider network.
NationPress
3 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was arrested for impersonating a police officer in Mumbai's Bandra?
Fahad Farid Khan, a 37-year-old car mechanic and resident of Bandra West, was arrested by Bandra Police on 3 October 2026 for allegedly impersonating a police officer. He was nabbed after he confronted traffic police personnel who had arrived to tow his vehicle.
How was the fake cop caught?
Bandra Police constables on patrol noticed a suspicious white car with no number plate and covered windows, with a blue police cap on the dashboard. When traffic police arrived to tow the vehicle, Khan appeared and allegedly misbehaved with officers, leading to his questioning and subsequent arrest after he could not produce any vehicle documents or prove he was a police officer.
What items were seized from the accused?
Police seized a white car without a number plate and a blue police cap from Fahad Farid Khan. He was unable to produce any documents related to the vehicle, and the origin of both the car and the cap is under investigation.
What charges have been filed against Fahad Farid Khan?
Bandra Police have registered a case against Khan for impersonating a police officer and related offences. The investigation is ongoing to determine how he acquired the vehicle and whether he used the impersonation in any prior incidents.
Why is police impersonation using a cap or insignia a concern?
Displaying police insignia such as a cap on a vehicle dashboard can create a false impression of authority, potentially deterring traffic police and citizens from questioning the driver or the vehicle. Investigators say Khan reportedly used this method to intimidate people, highlighting how easily visual symbols of police authority can be misused.
