A Bihar native impersonating an Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer was arrested in Lucknow on October 31 after attempting to gain access to Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha at an upscale hotel. Prashant Mohan, who checked in on October 30, flashed a counterfeit ID card to security personnel, claiming official business with the visiting CM. Saha, in town for a conference at King George's Medical University (KGMU), was on the same floor, prompting the bold intrusion that raised immediate red flags.

Hotel staff and the CM's Personal Security Officer (PSO) grew suspicious upon verifying the ID, leading to a police alert. As officers from the local Hazratganj station arrived, Mohan feigned a heart attack in a dramatic bid to evade custody while trying to check out. Rushed to Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences, doctors quickly debunked the act, confirming no medical emergency. A search uncovered additional fake IAS credentials, exposing a pattern of deception.

Police investigations revealed Mohan's modus operandi: posing as a high-ranking bureaucrat to infiltrate political circles, snap photographs with leaders, and leverage those images to dupe others for financial gain or influence. "He targeted politicians during public events, using the photos to build credibility and extort money," a senior officer said. Interrogations continue to uncover potential victims across states, with links to similar scams in Bihar and Delhi emerging.

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This incident highlights rising impersonation frauds amid VIP movements, straining security protocols at hospitality venues. Uttar Pradesh Police have registered a case under IPC sections for cheating, forgery, and impersonation, with Mohan remanded to judicial custody. Digital forensics on his phone may reveal a wider network.

As CM Saha proceeded undisturbed to his KGMU engagements, the arrest underscores vulnerabilities in elite access controls. Authorities urge hotels to mandate multi-layer verifications for VIP floors. With elections looming, such ruses pose risks to public trust; police vow crackdowns on fake ID syndicates fuelling these cons. Mohan's capture serves as a cautionary tale in an era of digital fakery.

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