Kathak teacher faked govt letters for VIP treatment

NEW DELHI: Renowned Kathak dancer Pulkit Mishra, also known as Pulkit Maharaj, was arrested for trying to get security and government accommodation using the name of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Mishra claimed to be the spiritual guru of the PM, and used fake letterheads of different ministries to seek VVIP status in other states. He even posed as the director of a culture ministry office.

Last month, the Prime Minister’s Office had lodged a complaint with Delhi Police after which an FIR was lodged. Mishra was asked to join the investigation and was arrested on Thursday.

Additional CP (crime) Rajiv Ranjan said a case of cheating and impersonation was registered against the dancer. “We have taken him into custody and would interrogate him further,” said Ranjan.

Officials at the PMO grew suspicious after the district magistrate of Sitapur received a letter signed by a secretary of culture ministry, seeking security and accommodation for Mishra and his disciples who wanted to visit an old temple in that town. The request was adhered to, but the district collector grew suspicious and sent it to PMO for verification. PMO officials found that it was printed on a fake letterhead.

Investigation also revealed that Mishra was received as a state guest by various states as he posed as the spiritual master of the PM. It was found that Mishra’s sister, Parul, used to pose as his secretary and send out the letters on his behalf. Mishra is being questioned to find out how and where he printed those letterheads.

Police said Mishra runs a dance academy and offers a course in spirituality at a society complex in Dilshad Garden. He claims he had performed before Modi at a programme at the Ambe Mandir complex in Gujarat when Modi was the chief minister of that state. After that, Modi had supposedly invited him to his residence and asked him to stay for two days.

Mishra claimed that he was also conferred with a special award named ‘Bharat Gaurav’ by the President in 2000 for teaching a blind girl from US to dance. He said he was given the directorial position by the government two years ago as a wedding gift.

Mishra has been taken in custody for five days. His sister is also being questioned.