Dehradun: Police in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, have arrested a man accused of impersonating an IPS officer, RAW operative, CRPF officer and senior military official to allegedly cheat people out of lakhs of rupees. According to investigators, the accused, Yashvardhan, is the son of former Uttarakhand Chief Secretary and retired IAS officer S. Ramaswamy. Police allege that he used forged identities, fake documents and official-looking uniforms for years to gain people’s trust and lure them with promises of government jobs, public contracts and expedited administrative work.
According to the police investigation, the accused spent several years preparing for the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) examination but failed to qualify. Investigators allege that after repeated failures, he began presenting himself as a senior officer from various central and state government agencies. Police say he adopted different identities depending on the victim, claiming influential government connections to establish credibility and win confidence.
During the arrest, police recovered five fake identity cards, eight forged visiting cards, 25 police and military badges and insignia, three sets of army and paramilitary uniforms, three fake service ribbons, a laptop and a wireless communication set. Investigators are conducting forensic and technical examinations of the seized items to determine how extensively they were used in the alleged fraud.
The case originated from two separate complaints registered at Rajpur Police Station. In the first complaint, Dehradun resident Anshul Upadhyay alleged that the accused cheated him of ₹15 lakh by promising to expedite the registration of a company in memory of his late mother. In the second complaint, Dr. Anusha alleged that Yashvardhan introduced himself as an IPS officer and promised to secure her a Data Science Consultant position in the Ministry of Defence, allegedly collecting ₹4.60 lakh in the process.
Based on these complaints, police registered cases under the relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and launched an investigation. Officers examined CCTV footage, digital evidence, call records and other documents before arresting the accused near the CSI intersection on Mussoorie Road in Dehradun.
During preliminary interrogation, the accused allegedly stated that he had grown up around senior government officials because of his father’s career and had always aspired to join the civil services. After failing to clear the UPSC examination, he allegedly resorted to creating fake identities to project authority and influence. Police are now investigating how many people may have been defrauded, the total amount allegedly collected and whether other individuals were involved in the operation.
According to renowned cybercrime expert and former IPS officer Prof. Triveni Singh, fraudsters in such cases rarely rely only on fake identity cards or uniforms. Instead, they employ sophisticated social engineering techniques to manipulate victims psychologically. By claiming influential government positions, offering jobs or promising to fast-track official work, they exploit trust and authority to deceive people. He advised citizens never to rely solely on uniforms, visiting cards or verbal claims and to independently verify the identity of any government official through official departmental channels.
Experts further caution that anyone demanding money in exchange for government jobs, recruitment, licences, tenders or administrative approvals through personal bank accounts should be treated with suspicion. All payments related to government services should be made only through authorised procedures, and any suspected fraud should be reported immediately to the police or the cybercrime authorities.
Police are continuing to examine the accused’s mobile phones, laptop, bank accounts, digital records and contacts. Investigators are also trying to determine whether similar frauds were committed in other states and whether additional individuals were part of the alleged fake officer network.
About the author — Suvedita Nath is a science student with a growing interest in cybercrime and digital safety. She writes on online activity, cyber threats, and technology-driven risks. Her work focuses on clarity, accuracy, and public awareness.
