In Gujarat, the issue of fake officials is becoming a serious problem. Recently, police arrested a man impersonating an IAS officer in Mehsana. The suspect, identified as Rishabh Reddy, allegedly tricked a hotel owner out of ₹79,000. This incident follows a larger scam where Rishabh and his accomplice, identified as Arpit Piyushbhai Shah, deceived a family in Visnagar for ₹21.65 lakh.
The scam began when Dineshbhai Patel, the owner of a hotel in Kansa village, met with Rishabh and his father-son duo from Surat. Rishabh posed as an IAS officer and claimed he could help with a legal issue involving an income tax raid. He told Patel that he needed money to pay a lawyer. Trusting Rishabh, Patel handed over large sums of money, believing that it would help resolve his legal troubles.
Over time, Patel became suspicious. He had given Rishabh ₹21.65 lakh in several payments. When he demanded the money back, he received threats instead. Rishabh had even stopped payments on cheques he issued, leaving Patel feeling trapped. In desperation, Patel reported the case to the police, which led to Rishabh’s arrest in Ahmedabad.
During the investigation, authorities discovered that Rishabh was not an IAS officer at all but had a criminal background. He had previously served time in jail for check fraud. The police found that he had been using fake documents and scripts to convince victims of his false identity. The scam has raised alarms about the rise of fake officials in the state, prompting calls for stricter enforcement.
This incident is part of a larger trend in Gujarat, where fake doctors, police, and officials have been reported. The police have been actively pursuing these cases, but many fake officials continue to deceive unsuspecting citizens. There have been reports of other individuals impersonating high-ranking officials and running similar scams. This growing issue is making it difficult for real officials to gain the trust of the public.
As the police work to track down other suspects involved in this case, including the father-son duo from Surat, it is clear that awareness and vigilance are crucial for the public. Citizens are urged to verify the credentials of anyone claiming to be an official before engaging in any financial transactions.
The authorities hope that by raising awareness about these scams, they can prevent further incidents and protect citizens from fraudulent activities. For now, Rishabh Reddy remains in custody, and further investigations are ongoing to bring all involved parties to justice.