Man impersonating as IAS, IP&TAFS officer nabbed while lobbying in land dispute in Jharkhand

Palamu (Jharkhand) [India], January 7 (ANI): A man posing as a senior government officer was arrested by police in Jharkhand's Palamu district for allegedly impersonating an IAS and IP&TAFS officer and misusing the authority of a public post to influence a land dispute. The incident came to light on January 2, 2026, at the Husainabad police station.
According to a Police statement, the accused visited the police station around 4 PM to lobby for a relative in a land-related dispute. He introduced himself as Rajesh Kumar, claiming to be a 2014-batch Odisha cadre IAS officer, currently posted as Chief Accounts Officer (CAO) in Bhubaneswar. During questioning, he stated that he had previously served in Dehradun, Hyderabad and Bhubaneshwar, raising suspicion among police officials due to inconsistencies in his postings.
When further probed, the man altered his statement and claimed to be an officer of the Indian P&T Accounts and Finance Service (IP&TAFS), asserting that it was equivalent to the Indian Administrative Service and selected through the Union Public Service Commission, said the release. He later left the police station, but officials escalated the matter to senior officers after doubts arose over his identity.
A preliminary inquiry, including verification through village sources, revealed that the man was not associated with any government service. He was summoned again for questioning but failed to produce any appointment letter, identity card or official documents. During interrogation, he confessed to impersonating an IP&TAFS officer.
The accused revealed that he had unsuccessfully attempted the UPSC examinations four times and later lied to his family about securing a prestigious government post. Police recovered fake identity cards, a counterfeit blue nameplate, a mobile phone and a Hyundai Era car during the search.
A case has been registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and the accused has been arrested and sent to judicial custody. (ANI)