Ahmedabad cyber and crime branch has arrested a 27-year-old man who allegedly posed as a PSI in the Gujarat Police cyber cell to cheat women through dating and matrimonial platforms. The accused is said to have used AI tools and digital manipulation to create fake identities and defraud victims of lakhs of rupees.
Police identified the accused as Himanshu alias Rocky Panchal, originally from Udaipur in Rajasthan, who was residing in the Sabarmati area of Ahmedabad. Officials said he created fake profiles on online platforms and falsely presented himself as a police officer to gain trust.
Modus operandi: AI, forged IDs and emotional manipulation
Investigations revealed that the accused was active on popular matrimonial and dating platforms including Shaadi.com, Jeevansathi, Bumble and Hinge. He allegedly used AI-generated images showing himself in a police uniform to make his profile appear authentic and credible.
Not only photos, but the accused also created fake government identity documents using digital tools such as Canva and other editing software. These forged documents carried fake headings like “Government of India” and “Crime Branch Cyber Security,” along with fabricated seals and signatures designed to look official.
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According to police, he convinced women that he was serving as a PSI in the Gujarat Police cyber cell. Using this false identity, he first developed emotional relationships with victims and later began demanding money under various excuses such as medical emergencies, job-related issues, or personal crises.
Scale and ongoing probe
Once victims trusted him, he allegedly continued extracting money gradually, using emotional manipulation and fabricated situations. Preliminary investigation suggests that multiple women may have been targeted, although the total number of victims is still being verified.
The crime branch has recovered several items from the accused, including an Oppo mobile phone, ₹40,000 in cash, fake photographs in police uniform, Gujarat Police logos, forged identity cards, a red belt, and stickers featuring the Ashoka emblem. Officials said these items were used to strengthen his fake identity.
Warnings and next steps
Police officers stated that the accused operated in a highly organized manner, frequently changing profiles and using digital techniques to conceal his identity. He remained active on social media and dating platforms to continuously find new victims.
Investigators believe the case may not be limited to individual cheating and could potentially be part of a wider cyber fraud pattern. The possibility of involvement of additional accomplices or a larger network is also being examined.
Officials further stated that interrogation is ongoing to determine the total number of victims, the amount of money collected, and whether others were involved in assisting the accused.
Police have urged citizens, especially women using dating and matrimonial platforms, to verify the identity of individuals before trusting claims of government or law enforcement affiliation. They emphasized that any such claims should be independently verified through official channels.
The accused remains in custody, and cybercrime officials are continuing detailed analysis of digital evidence. Authorities believe that further investigation may reveal more cases linked to the same pattern of fraud.
