Fake ‘NIA’ officer held for threatening transporter

 

 

 

The Crime Branch Unit Five arrested a 25-year-old man for posing as an officer of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and threatening a transport businessman in the Butibori area. The accused has been identified as Pralhad Dilipkumar Sinha, a resident of Satgaon, Butibori. The action followed a complaint filed by Hasdisingh Parvinder Singh Bhatia (43), a transport businessman from Gurunanakpura, Pachpaoli. Based on the complaint, a case was registered at Yashodhara Nagar Police Station. According to police, Sinha owns three cars that he rents out through an app. One of the cars was not returned and he later learned that it was parked near The Palm Green Lawn in Kamptee, which is managed by Bhatia. Sinha first called Bhatia pretending to be a Police Inspector from Butibori Police Station and threatened him over the parked car.

 

Later, he visited the spot and falsely claimed to be an NIA officer. On getting suspicious, Bhatia asked for identification and informed an acquaintance from the NIA and Crime Branch DCP Rahul Maknikar. The accused then fled with the car. “A swift operation was launched after we received the alert. The accused was traced and arrested with the help of Butibori Police,” said DCP Maknikar. A team led by Senior Police Inspector Vinayak Golhe arrested Sinha from Satgaon and seized a fake NIA identity card bearing the Central Government logo, Aadhaar card, PAN card, voter ID, a mobile phone, and the car worth about Rs 3.25 lakh. “The accused used a fake ID to impersonate an NIA officer and threaten civilians. Strict action has been taken,” said Sr PI Vinayak Golhe. Police have also launched a search for the persons who rented the car and later abandoned it. Further investigation is on.