Ludhiana, Feb 14: A BCom graduate, he could not clear the civil services exam, but Rupinder Singh of Ludhiana’s Sardar Nagar impersonated an Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre, managing to get special police security, pressurising authorities to get arms licences issued for people he knew and getting complaints against family members disposed of. All with a fake ID.
Singh was arrested by the Salem Tabri police on Tuesday and a police uniform, metal stars, IPS badge, name plate, .32 bore revolver, two sticks and beacon recovered from his possession.
The accused told police that he got the idea to play a fake IPS officer after watching South Indian movies and bought a police uniform and other accessories. He would visit police officials and police stations in the city and pressurise officials to do his bidding, getting arms licences issued and disposing off complaints against relatives. He had also cheated a woman, Ravinder Kaur of Barewal, of Rs 4 lakh by promising to help her travel abroad.
Additional deputy commissioner of police (ADCP, special branch) Surendra Lamba said Singh was an employee of Jujhar Transport and had worked as immigration consultant.
The Salem Tabri and Meharban police stations had also provided security to him for a few days after he had turned up in an SUV and introduced himself as an IPS officer from UP. He had told the officials present that he had come to the city to visit his family and needed security.
On Friday, when Singh went to the police commissioner’s office an official there smelt a rat when he saw the uniform was not of the rank Singh claimed he held and informed his senior.
Finding himself in trouble,Singh escaped.
On his trail for the last few days, the police acted on a tip off and arrested him from the Jalandhar Bypass Chowk when Singh was trying to flee from the city.
He was booked by police under sections 170 , 171 and 420 of IPC.
News Source: www.hindustantimes.com
