A man posing as an IAS officer of the Manipur cadre to deceive families and marry women has been arrested, exposing a shocking case of fraud. The matter came to light after his second marriage in Gorakhpur, following which he was tracked down and arrested from Jalaun.
Second Marriage Raises Doubts
The accused has been identified as Pritam Nishad alias Arjun Singh, a native of Etawah district. Investigations revealed that he is only a high school pass and had discontinued his studies thereafter. Despite this, he successfully posed as a senior civil servant to mislead victims.
According to the complaint, the accused married a woman from the Cantt area in Gorakhpur by claiming to be an IAS officer posted in the Manipur cadre. The marriage was solemnized on March 11. However, within a day, when he took his wife to Etawah, doubts began to surface about his identity.
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Family Confrontation Exposes Fraud
Sensing something amiss, members of the bride’s family reached Etawah and confronted him. During questioning, his claims collapsed, leading to a dispute and scuffle. The woman’s family then brought her back to Gorakhpur and filed a police complaint.
Further investigation revealed that the accused was already married. His first marriage took place in Daulatpur village of Auraiya district and had not been legally dissolved. Despite this, he went on to marry again. So far, two marriages have been confirmed, while authorities suspect there could be more such cases.
Family members stated that the accused had earlier lived in Etawah, presenting himself as a working professional. Later, he assumed a false identity as an IAS officer. He even showed his brother-in-law’s house as his own residence to convince the bride’s family.
Technical Surveillance Leads to Arrest
Using technical surveillance, police traced his location to Jalaun in the Bundelkhand region. He was eventually arrested near Kalpi railway station. During interrogation, he admitted to deceiving multiple people using his fake identity.
Authorities recovered a mobile phone, tablet, and Aadhaar card from his possession. These devices are being examined to identify additional victims and gather evidence of further fraudulent activities.
Elaborate Wedding Arrangements
To strengthen his image, the accused reportedly made elaborate arrangements during the wedding. He arrived in a sherwani, changed outfits during rituals, and projected himself as a high-ranking officer. Invitations were even sent to several prominent individuals to enhance credibility, some of whom attended the ceremony out of curiosity.
The accused has been produced before a court and sent to jail. Investigators are now examining the role of his family members and possible accomplices to determine whether others were involved in the deception.
The case highlights how false claims of social status and government positions can be used to exploit trust, especially in sensitive matters like marriage. Experts stress the importance of thorough background verification before entering into such alliances to avoid falling victim to similar frauds.
About the author – Rehan Khan is a law student and legal journalist with a keen interest in cybercrime, digital fraud, and emerging technology laws. He writes on the intersection of law, cybersecurity, and online safety, focusing on developments that impact individuals and institutions in India.
