A 36-year-old former accountant, Lakhpat Singh Negi, was arrested in Delhi’s Pitampura for impersonating a Delhi Police sub-inspector for two years, using an elaborate disguise to gain social respect and financial benefits. The arrest, made by the Maurya Enclave police on Tuesday night, unraveled a meticulously crafted deception involving fake IDs, a police uniform, and even a toy pistol, raising concerns about the ease of acquiring official-looking paraphernalia.

Negi, a Rohini resident, was spotted by a patrolling team sitting suspiciously in his Hyundai Exter in Pitampura’s KP Block. When questioned, he claimed to be a sub-inspector at Dwarka’s Cyber Police Station but dodged requests for identification and provided misleading details about his Personal Identification Serial (PIS) number, said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Northwest) Bhisham Singh.

A search of his vehicle revealed a trove of incriminating items: four forged Delhi Police ID cards bearing his photo, a sub-inspector’s uniform with a nameplate, a toy pistol in a holster mimicking a service weapon, Delhi Police stickers ordered online, badges of decorated officers, a beret and peaked cap, a fluorescent jacket, court summons, file covers, three mobile phones, and eight debit/credit cards.

Negi, a graduate who lost his accounting job two years ago, confessed to posing as an officer to overcome the shame of unemployment, especially as his wife’s eatery became their primary income source. “He built this disguise over time, purchasing items like uniforms from Kingsway Camp and stickers online to appear convincing,” Singh noted. The forged court summons, a recent addition, suggested potential misuse in official settings, though no specific victims have been identified.

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The case, registered under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for impersonation, forgery, and cheating, highlights a growing trend of such frauds, with a similar arrest of a 23-year-old at IGI Airport in July for targeting women with fake police credentials. Social media posts on X have called for stricter regulations on police uniform sales, citing how easily Negi accessed his props. As investigations continue to trace any financial or social fraud, the incident underscores vulnerabilities in public trust and the need for vigilance against such deceptions.

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