Fake IAS officer from Shaikpet arrested after cheating Gold Gym MD of Rs 10.5 lakh in land scam

Hyderabad: Film Nagar Police have arrested a 39-year-old man for posing as a senior IAS, IPS and even an NIA officer to dupe people with promises of official favours.

The accused allegedly cheated a Gold Gym managing director of over Rs 10.5 lakh by using forged government documents and staging himself as a high-ranking officer.

The accused, Bathini Shashikanth, a resident of Aparna Aura Apartments, Shaikpet, was arrested on November 25 and booked under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), including cheating, forgery, criminal intimidation and impersonation.

Accused had private car fitted with police sirens, walkie-talkies

Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Hyderabad West Zone, Ch Srinivas said Shashikanth had been misleading the public for more than two years by projecting himself as a Deputy Commissioner in the Mines Department, and at times as an IPS and NIA officer.

Elaborating further, the DCP said that to appear authentic, the accused used fake IAS, IPS and NIA identity cards. He even forged visiting cards and official documents. Apart from that, a private car fitted with police sirens, walkie-talkies to simulate official communication.

Adding to the deception, he also hired two bodyguards with weapons from Tamil Nadu to strengthen his image as a powerful government official.

Gold Gym MD cheated with a forged land allotment letter

The main complainant, Ali Hassan, Managing Director of Gold Gym, was cheated after the accused produced a forged Telangana State Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (TSIIC) industrial land allotment letter.

Trusting the accused, the victim transferred Rs 10,50,665 through bank transfers, UPI transactions and cash, believing that industrial land would be secured and official approvals facilitated. After pocketing the amount, the accused went underground, prompting a police complaint.

Swift trap, accused arrested

Acting on credible intelligence, a special police team launched a swift operation and nabbed Shashikanth from his temporary hideout in Hyderabad on Tuesday.

Two associates who acted as his personal security guards, Praveen (Accused No 2) and Vimal (Accused No 3), are currently absconding, and special teams have been formed to track them down, the DCP said.

Fake IDs, walkie-talkies seized

During the arrest, police recovered two mobile phones, six SIM cards, two walkie-talkies and fake government identity cards from the possession of the accused. The seized material is believed to have been extensively used to cheat multiple victims.

Police warn public against impersonators

DCP Srinivas also urged citizens to exercise caution and not fall prey to individuals posing as government officials offering favours. The public has been asked to verify credentials and immediately alert police about suspicious activity.