In a significant crackdown, Patna police apprehended two individuals on Friday near the city's airport for possessing fraudulent identification cards of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The arrests have shed light on a well-organized gang that has been allegedly deceiving citizens for more than a year.
The Arrest and Seizure
The police team nabbed Himanshu Kumar, aged 42, and Satyanand Kumar, aged 45, following a specific tip-off. The informant alerted authorities that the duo was posing as CBI officials in the vicinity of the Patna airport. Upon interrogation and search, the police recovered counterfeit CBI identity cards and a motorcycle prominently displaying the CBI logo from their possession.
Himanshu Kumar is a resident of Bihta, while Satyanand Kumar hails from Shahpur in Danapur, Patna. During questioning, the accused confessed to their involvement in the racket and disclosed the identities of three other alleged gang members: Sohel Mirza from West Bengal, Syed Khalid Ahmad from Sonepur in Saran district, and D K Verma from Paliganj in Patna district.
Modus Operandi of the Fake CBI Gang
Sachivalay SDPO-1, Anu Kumari, detailed the three primary methods employed by the gang to extort money from unsuspecting victims. She emphasized that many active members of this network are still at large, freely roaming markets while impersonating CBI officers.
The first method targets unemployed youth. The gang allegedly puts up posters advertising fake CBI job vacancies in local areas. They then cheat aspiring candidates of substantial sums of money under the pretext of securing these non-existent positions.
The second scheme involves targeting air passengers. Gang members approach travelers immediately after they disembark from flights at the airport. They claim to have found discrepancies in the passengers' documents and extort large amounts of money. Most victims, believing the impersonators to be genuine CBI officers, comply out of fear. The SDPO noted that these incidents often go unreported, allowing the gang to operate with impunity for long periods.
The third and most alarming tactic involves planting evidence. "As soon as passengers exit the airport, their luggage is checked. Something is planted in the travellers’ luggage, and then they are blackmailed," explained Anu Kumari. This method uses the threat of false implication in serious crimes to coerce victims into paying up.
Ongoing Investigation and Public Advisory
The police investigation is ongoing, with efforts focused on tracking down the other named gang members and understanding the full extent of their operations. The case underscores a brazen pattern of impersonation and fraud that has exploited public trust in a premier national agency.
The arrests near Patna airport serve as a crucial breakthrough, but authorities warn that similar gangs might be active. They have advised the public, especially those around transit hubs like airports and railway stations, to remain vigilant. Citizens are urged to always ask for official verification and to report any suspicious individuals claiming to be government officials to the police immediately.
