Fake IAS Arrested

Fake IAS Officer Caught with Luxury Cars, Documents

Lucknow

A routine traffic check in the city led to the arrest of a man impersonating a high-ranking IAS officer. The accused, Saurabh Tripathi (36), from Gautam Buddha Nagar and originally from Mau district, was stopped near Kargil Park. Suspicious behaviour during the check prompted police to investigate further, exposing his long-running fraud.

Tripathi, a BTech graduate, had allegedly been posing as an IAS officer for several years, enjoying privileges and access reserved for senior bureaucrats. Police recovered luxury vehicles including a Range Rover and a Mercedes-Benz C 220, fake government documents, official car passes, red-blue beacons, and cars labeled as ‘Government of India.’

According to SHO Rajesh Kumar Tripathi of Wazirganj Police, his behaviour raised suspicion, and that stroke of luck exposed a high-profile fraud. Investigations revealed that Tripathi claimed to be a cabinet special secretary, attended prominent events, and maintained a social media account under the handle Saurabh IAAS, which is now deactivated.

He reportedly travelled with bodyguards and posted photos with influential figures, including religious leader Prem Bhushan Maharaj and government ministers, to reinforce his fake identity.

The Lucknow Police have registered a case against him under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. Authorities are now probing to uncover his network, contacts, and how he managed to carry out the impersonation for years, as well as whether others were involved in facilitating his fraud.