A resident of Gamdi in Anand has been arrested for allegedly impersonating an IAS officer and duping a photocopy shop owner of Rs 7.7 lakh by promising direct recruitment to a state government post. The accused, identified as Ronak Christian, allegedly claimed to be the Deputy Collector and Sub-Divisional Magistrate of Gandhinagar. Following a formal complaint, police tracked Christian down and took him into custody on September 20.
Forged Credentials and the Promise of a Government Post
According to investigators, Christian was a frequent visitor to the complainant’s photocopy shop in Anand. During his visits, he allegedly presented himself as a serving IAS officer and displayed a forged government identity card carrying his name and photograph to reinforce his credentials. He assured the shopkeeper that he could secure him direct recruitment as a Deputy Mamlatdar, a taluka-level revenue and administrative role that is ordinarily filled through competitive examinations held by the Gujarat Public Service Commission.
Extortion of Funds and Subsequent Police Arrest
In exchange for arranging the direct appointment, Christian allegedly extracted Rs 7.7 lakh from the victim. The complainant neither secured the promised government position nor received a refund of the money, while the accused continued to pose as a senior official to keep up appearances. Following the shopkeeper’s complaint, an First Information Report was registered at Anand Town police station on September 19. Acting on technical surveillance and local intelligence inputs, police arrested Christian the following day.
Electronic Devices and Forged Cards Recovered
Upon his arrest, police recovered a second purported fake government identity card that also described Christian as a Gandhinagar Deputy Collector and Sub-Divisional Magistrate. Officers also seized a laptop, mobile phone, printer, stamp, and several related documents from his possession. Christian faces charges related to cheating, forgery, impersonating a public servant, and illegally obtaining money. Investigators are currently scrutinising the seized digital devices and papers to determine how the counterfeit identity cards were generated and whether other job seekers fell prey to the scheme.
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