A man masquerading as an IPS probationary officer was arrested by the police recently.
The accused Dileepa, 35, on April 14, walked into the Krishnaraja Police station in Mysuru, and introducing himself as a Kerala cadre IPS probationary officer on holiday in the city, asked the officials to arrange for an air-conditioned Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) with a chauffeur to be sent to his address for free for a family vacation. He even produced a copy of a notification issued by Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in 2017 to authenticate his appointment as IPS probationary officer.
When the MHA website was checked, Dileepa’s name was missing from the list. The serial number 144 and rank 792 printed in the copy of notification produced by him had the name of one Padam Singh from Rajasthan.
Yet, the police dispatched an SUV with police personnel to the address provided by the imposter on April 19, the date on which he had sought a free vehicle for a family holiday. As soon he boarded the SUV, the imposter was brought to the police station and questioned.
The accused, a resident of Vijaynagar 3rd Stage in Mysuru, was an engineering graduate, but had not cleared the competitive exams. He was residing in Mysuru with his sister. He had downloaded the MHA notification of 2017 IPS probationary officers and edited it to include his name.
As soon as he was brought to the police station, Dileepa was booked under various sections of IPC including 419 and 420. He was arrested and produced before the court, which remanded him to judicial custody. He is now in Mysuru Central prison, according to a statement issued by the Mysuru city police.