Delhi Police has apprehended a man accused of impersonating an additional district magistrate (ADM) from Uttar Pradesh to defraud several individuals of approximately Rs 60 lakh. The suspect promised government jobs and land allotments in Noida under official schemes, officials confirmed.
Complaint and Investigation
The case came to light following a complaint filed on March 23, alleging cheating and impersonation. The accused, identified as Pawan Kumar Pandey, allegedly introduced himself as “Varun Kumar Pandey, ADM, Uttar Pradesh” and claimed close connections with senior officials to gain the victims’ trust.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central) Rohit Rajbir Singh stated that the accused lured the complainant and his associates with assurances of government jobs and plots in Noida, collecting around Rs 60 lakh from them.
Technical Surveillance Leads to Arrest
During the investigation, police analyzed digital and financial records, tracking the money trail. Using technical surveillance and document verification, the accused was identified and subsequently arrested.
Police disclosed that a telephonic conversation revealed the accused continued to impersonate an ADM posted at Lodhi Road and also claimed to serve as sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) in Mehnagar tehsil of Azamgarh.
Identity Theft of Real Officer
Verification of phone identities linked to the numbers used by the accused showed they were registered in the name of “Varun Kumar Pandey.” However, police confirmed with the actual officer—a 2015-batch provincial civil services (PCS) officer and former ADM of Jhansi—that his identity had been misused.
The accused had allegedly been posing as an ADM for several years, using publicly available photographs and information of the officer from social media to appear credible.
Financial Trail and Further Investigation
The probe revealed that the accused received large sums through intermediaries and used the money to acquire movable assets. Police are examining the role of other associates and attempting to identify more victims.
