The Mumbai Crime Branch has arrested Chandramohan Prasad Rambali Singh, a resident of Vaishali, Bihar, for impersonating an IAS officer and illegally staying at a high-profile Customs Department guest house in Bandra East. Singh, who had been preparing for the UPSC exam since 2017 but never cleared it, allegedly posed as an officer in the Ministry of Home Affairs to maintain the illusion of success to his family and community.
Booked into the guest house with help from a contact within the civil services, Singh had been enjoying VIP treatment for two days before being caught. His deception began to unravel after a patrolling police team spotted a suspicious white Swift Dzire in Malad, displaying a “Government of India” board.
Acting on a tip-off, constable Laxman Bagave and inspector Balasaheb Raut of Dahisar Unit 12 intercepted the vehicle near Silver Oak Hotel. Sitting in the backseat, Singh presented an ID claiming he was an Assistant Director (Security) in the Ministry of Home Affairs, valid until 2028. However, inconsistencies in the card raised immediate red flags, leading to his detention and questioning at the Dahisar Crime Branch office.
A Fabricated Identity and a Web of Lies
During interrogation, Singh admitted to crafting a false persona after failing to crack the Civil Services Examination. The pressure from family and social circles in Bihar compelled him to lie about becoming an IAS officer, initially just to “save face.”
The ruse escalated when Singh traveled to Mumbai for a three-day holiday. With the help of a friend working in government service, he secured accommodation at the elite Bandra guest house reserved for Customs officers. He hired a local driver, Fardin Saifi (24), and carried himself like a government dignitary, even convincing traffic police in Dadar to let him go after flashing his fake ID.
A search of his belongings revealed:
- 1 forged Ministry of Home Affairs ID card
- 16 visiting cards
- Aadhaar, PAN, driving license
- 2 mobile phones
- Cash
Singh admitted to designing the ID card himself and using it successfully on multiple occasions to gain respect and privileges.
Legal Action and Ongoing Investigation
Singh was booked under the following sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS):
- Section 204: Impersonation of a public servant
- Section 336(2): Forgery
- Section 336(3): Making a false document
- Section 340: Using a forged document as genuine
He has been remanded to police custody till July 3, as authorities dig deeper into whether any financial fraud was involved or if others facilitated his impersonation. The car owner and the person who helped book the guest house are also under investigation.
Though no financial cheating has surfaced yet, police consider Singh’s actions a serious security breach. “Even if no one lost money, impersonating an IAS officer and accessing government facilities with forged documents is a serious crime,” a senior official said.
The incident has raised concerns about security loopholes, especially regarding access to sensitive government accommodations and how easily fake credentials can be used to exploit public trust.