A 36-year-old man from Lucknow has been arrested after being caught posing as an IAS officer during a routine traffic stop. Saurabh Tripathi, an engineering graduate who failed the UPSC civil services exam twice, was apprehended by Wazirganj police near Kargil Park. He attempted to deceive officers by presenting a forged identity card and visiting card, and even tried to intimidate them by name-dropping senior IAS officials.

The elaborate charade began to unravel when Tripathi's behavior raised suspicion during the vehicle check. His car was equipped with a government pass and a red-blue beacon, typically associated with official vehicles. However, the police officers' instincts led them to question him further, ultimately exposing the deception.

A subsequent search of Tripathi's residence revealed the extent of his impersonation. Police seized six luxury vehicles, including a Range Rover, Mercedes Benz C 220, and multiple Toyota Innovas. Each vehicle bore counterfeit Uttar Pradesh government or Secretariat passes. Authorities also found a laptop, forged documents, multiple fake IDs, Aadhaar and driving licenses with mismatched details, beacon lights, cash, debit cards, and visiting cards with various designations. Further investigation revealed that Tripathi had even created a fake NIC email ID to bolster his false identity.

According to SHO Wazirganj, Rajesh Kumar Tripathi, the accused used the forged passes and IDs to enjoy government protocol privileges, extract money, and access facilities in multiple states. He also maintained two residences, one in Gomti Nagar Extension, Lucknow, and another in Noida, to further support his impersonation. These locations served as storage for high-end cars and forged documents, and he frequently moved between them to avoid detection.

Police investigation revealed that Tripathi also cultivated an online presence, styling himself as a cabinet special secretary, Government of India, or special secretary, Urban Development, UP, on social media. He reportedly frequented official events and posed for photographs with top officials to build credibility.

ACP Chowk Rajkumar Singh stated that Tripathi confessed to forging multiple passes and IDs to impersonate an IAS officer for personal gain after sustained questioning. He was unable to clear the UPSC exam and decided to impersonate what he could not become. A case has been registered against Tripathi at Wazirganj police station.

Another incident from December 2024 involved a man in Lucknow who was booked for allegedly posing as an IAS officer and threatening a woman to marry him. Deepak Kumar, who is yet to be arrested, allegedly threatened the victim with violence if she did not comply. He had claimed to be undergoing IAS training in Delhi but was later discovered to be working for a private company.