The Ahmedabad police have arrested a 29-year-old man accused of impersonating an IAS officer and using counterfeit government documents to defraud people, officials reported on Sunday.
Mehul Shah, an engineer managing two schools in Vankaner, Morbi district, allegedly swindled lakhs of rupees by forging official documents and making fraudulent claims, said Crime Branch Inspector J.K. Makwana.
Shah reportedly contacted Pratik Shah, a car rental business owner, claiming to be a high-ranking government official. He requested a vehicle equipped with a siren and curtains. However, he did not pay the rental charges.
“The accused presented himself as a director in the Revenue Department and an IAS officer. He used counterfeit documents, including letters purportedly from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs and the fictitious ‘Department of Science and Research Development,’ to obtain the car and modifications,” said Inspector Makwana.
Shah also forged an appointment letter from the Ahmedabad District Education Officer (DEO) to offer a government computer operator’s job to the son of a complainant. He further identified himself as a school trustee and allegedly defaulted on a payment of Rs 7 lakh owed to another complainant for painting a school building.
“Although he held no official position in either the state or central government, he used fraudulent work permits and no-objection certificates (NOCs) to deceive victims and amass large sums of money,” Makwana added.
During the investigation, police recovered numerous fake identity cards and forged documents, including items bearing headers such as Bharat Gaurav Ratna Shri Samman Council, Chairman of the Department of Science and Research Development, Health and Family Welfare Department and Road and Building Department.
The police have lodged an FIR based on complaints from three victims and have urged others who may have been defrauded by Shah to come forward.
“We appeal to the public to report any fraudulent activity or cheating they may have experienced at the hands of the accused,” said Inspector Makwana.
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