Lucknow | October 17: In one of the most shocking impersonation frauds in recent years, a man posing as an IAS officer was arrested in Lucknow for allegedly defrauding over 150 people of more than ₹80 crore.
The accused, identified as Dr. Vivek Mishra, had been masquerading as an officer of the Gujarat-cadre IAS since 2014. He was arrested near Kamta Tiraha in a joint operation conducted by the Lucknow Police and the Crime Investigation Department (CID).
According to officials, the elaborate scam stretched across multiple states — including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Delhi, Jharkhand, and Gujarat — and involved a well-organised network of accomplices.
Fake IAS Officer Promised Jobs and Government Appointments
The CID’s preliminary investigation revealed that Vivek Mishra frequently introduced himself as a 2014-batch IAS officer of the Gujarat cadre, claiming strong connections within the central government and state bureaucracy.
He created fake social media profiles — allegedly linked to the IAS, IPS, and the Ministry of Home Affairs — to project an image of authority. Using this façade, he offered to arrange government jobs, transfers, or appointments under the sports quota.
Investigators have also recovered forged appointment letters issued by Mishra for positions such as Deputy SP, Public Relations Officer (PRO), and Assistant Commissioner.
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Exposed Through a Lawyer’s Sting Operation
The case first came to light in June 2018, when Supreme Court advocate Dr. Ashutosh Mishra met Vivek Mishra at a Lucknow hotel.
According to Dr. Ashutosh, the accused introduced himself as a Gujarat-cadre IAS officer and claimed he could “get any government job done easily.”
When suspicions arose, Dr. Ashutosh devised a sting operation with a group of junior lawyers who posed as job aspirants. Mishra allegedly demanded ₹5 lakh for each appointment and accepted ₹4.5 lakh in advance. Days later, he sent a fake appointment letter designating Dr. Ashutosh as Public Relations Officer in the Gujarat Home Department.
A few months later, he issued another forged document offering the post of Deputy SP under the sports quota. When Dr. Ashutosh verified the documents, both were found to be fraudulent.
He subsequently filed a complaint at the Chinhat police station on July 24, 2019, which led to a formal case being registered.
Widespread Network Unearthed After Arrest
Following Mishra’s arrest, the CID uncovered a well-structured racket involving multiple accomplices, including his own sisters. Investigators revealed that Nidhi Mishra and Vidhi Mishra, both residents of Jharkhand’s Bokaro district, actively participated in the fraud, introducing themselves as IPS and IG-rank officers of the Gujarat cadre.
According to Inspector Dinesh Chandra Mishra, other key members of the gang included: Anand Kumar, who impersonated a Deputy SP during operations; Jayant Kumar, who arranged multiple fake SIM cards for the group’s communication and Meera Rawat, Baby Tiwari, and Rupa Thakur, who assisted in managing funds and victim documentation.
Romance Scams and Social Media Manipulation
The investigation further revealed that Vivek Mishra also operated several romance scams under the alias IAS Vivek Anand Mishra.
He created fake Facebook and WhatsApp profiles, presenting himself as a high-ranking bureaucrat to impress and manipulate women.
He reportedly engaged in long-term online conversations, earning trust before demanding money or expensive gifts under various pretexts. CID officials confirmed that several women across different states sent him large sums of money, believing him to be a genuine officer.
Evidence of Multi-State Operations
According to CID officials, Mishra and his associates defrauded victims across at least five Indian states, collecting over ₹80 crore over the past few years.
Each operation followed a similar pattern — local agents identified potential victims, while Mishra and his sisters handled communication, forged documentation, and financial transfers.
The CID has seized multiple bank accounts, forged government seals, laptops, and digital IDs used in the fraud.
The agency is now tracing the flow of money across states to identify additional beneficiaries and possible shell accounts.
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“Fraud in the Name of Authority” — A Growing Crime Trend
Investigators have termed this case a classic example of “authority-based fraud”, where criminals exploit the public’s trust in government positions and uniforms.
Officials noted that such scams often rely on psychological manipulation, rather than sophisticated technology.
By invoking bureaucratic power, fake credentials, and fear of missing out, the perpetrators convince victims to part with large sums of money.
“This is not just financial fraud; it’s an abuse of public trust,” one senior officer said. “People must verify every claim of official identity — no matter how convincing it seems.”
CID Expands Probe Across States
The CID has now taken over the investigation in coordination with multiple state police units.
Officials stated that Vivek Mishra is being interrogated in custody, and the agency plans to seek police remand to question him about his interstate network and financial trail.
During raids, police recovered dozens of fake government seals, appointment letters, and identity cards allegedly used by the accused. Investigators are now analysing the digital devices to track potential new victims and identify links to other states.
Public Advisory: Verify Before You Trust
Authorities have urged citizens to remain cautious of anyone claiming to hold high-level government positions or promising quick jobs in exchange for money.
“Such scams thrive on people’s faith in authority,” a CID officer warned.
“Always verify official identities through government portals or direct departmental contacts before making any financial commitments.”
