Police in Lucknow have registered a case against a woman for allegedly impersonating the wife of a senior high court judge to obtain special VIP treatment at a prominent medical institute. The incident highlights attempts to exploit protocol systems for personal gain.
The Deception at RMLIMS
The episode unfolded on November 26 at the Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences (RMLIMS). The accused, identified as Ranjana Rai, arrived at the orthopaedics department with her daughter. She then approached the Public Relations Officer's (PRO) office and introduced herself as the spouse of a senior judge from the high court. Her request was for protocol assistance to facilitate her medical consultation, aiming to bypass standard procedures.
Swift Verification and Exposure
Assistant PRO Nimisha Sonkar promptly alerted the institute's protocol desk following the unusual request. Staff member Avinash Rai then initiated a verification process to confirm the woman's claimed identity. Officials contacted the protocol wing of the high court, only to discover a crucial discrepancy: no such request for protocol had been made by the judge or his family. This confirmed that the woman had fabricated her identity to secure privileged services.
Consequently, the hospital administration immediately denied her the VIP protocol services. Recognizing the seriousness of the attempt to defraud, the institute officials reported the entire matter to the authorities for legal action.
Legal Repercussions and Police Investigation
On November 27, Joint Registrar (Protocol) Shailendra Kumar formally filed a First Information Report (FIR) at the Vibhuti Khand police station. Inspector Amar Singh stated that the FIR includes charges under sections related to cheating and impersonation. "The woman's mobile number was provided by the hospital and efforts are underway to trace her," Inspector Singh explained.
As part of the ongoing investigation, police are also examining CCTV footage from within the medical institute. This review aims to establish Ranjana Rai's precise movements during her visit and gather further evidence for the case. The incident has raised questions about the security of protocol systems in public institutions.
