IAS Officer's Driver Arrested for Impersonation and Document Leak in Gujarat
In a significant development, the driver of a Rajasthan cadre IAS officer was apprehended on Friday in Rajkot for allegedly exploiting the officer's name and position to conduct illicit financial transactions and leak confidential official documents. The arrest follows a formal complaint lodged by IAS officer Pratibha Dahiya, a 2022 batch officer currently serving in her parent Rajasthan cadre.
FIR Registered Under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita
An FIR was officially registered against the accused, Momin Pathan, at the Neelambag police station. Pathan faces multiple charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including sections 318(2) for cheating, 212 for impersonation, 204 for theft, 228 for destruction of evidence, and 356(2) for other related offenses. The complaint highlights a series of alleged misconduct that has raised serious concerns about security protocols within administrative offices.
Viral Social Media Clips Spark Investigation
According to the complaint filed by Officer Dahiya, the investigation was triggered on March 17 when an audio and video clip of Pathan went viral on social media platforms. The footage purportedly showed Pathan misusing Dahiya's name, her office's identity, and her official position for personal financial gain. Notably, the video also captured Pathan taking unauthorized photographs of sensitive office documents and engaging in confidential conversations, indicating a breach of official secrecy.
Earlier Incidents and Disturbed Area Act Connection
This incident is not isolated. In March, additional CCTV footage surfaced on social media, allegedly depicting Pathan demanding money to secure a favorable order in a case related to the Disturbed Area Act. The footage also showed him apparently accepting monetary bribes. Furthermore, a copy of a prant officer's order concerning land matters was leaked, which Pathan is accused of providing to an applicant. At that time, Dahiya clarified to the media that the leaked document was merely a draft, emphasizing that properties under the Disturbed Area Act cannot be sold without the collector's explicit permission.
Police Action and Ongoing Investigation
Bhavnagar DySP R R Singhal provided details on the arrest, stating, "Pathan went underground after the clips surfaced, but was tracked down and arrested on Friday." The police are now intensifying their probe, with plans to record statements from the individual seen in the CCTV footage handing over money. The investigation will delve deeper into several critical aspects:
- Whether Pathan was acting alone or on behalf of others.
- The destination and utilization of the illicit funds acquired.
- Identifying any accomplices who facilitated his unauthorized access to the Sub-Divisional Magistrate's (SDM) office documents.
This case underscores vulnerabilities in administrative security and highlights the need for stringent measures to prevent such impersonation and data breaches in government offices.
