Nagpur Crime Branch Nabs Impersonator in Dramatic 80km Chase
In a startling case of deception, the Nagpur city police crime branch has arrested a 25-year-old man for impersonating a police officer and flashing a forged National Investigation Agency (NIA) identity card. The elaborate scheme aimed to deceive a local businessman and lawn owner, culminating in a dramatic two-hour chase spanning approximately 80 kilometers across city roads and outskirts before the suspect's capture late on Tuesday.
Impersonation Unfolds at Marriage Lawn
The incident began when the impersonator, identified as Prahlad Sinha who operates a rent-a-cab business through an app, tracked his stolen vehicle using GPS. Three customers had fled with a car hired through his app, leading Sinha to a marriage lawn on Kamptee road in Yashodhara Nagar early on January 27 around 6am. There, he attempted to mislead people by first posing as a senior security official and then as an NIA officer to retrieve the vehicle.
Complainant Hasdisingh Bhatia, a 43-year-old transport business owner who also oversees his father's lawn business, received a suspicious call from a mobile number. The caller identified himself as Prahlad Sinha, a police inspector from Butibori police station, claiming a stolen car was parked outside the lawn. He instructed Bhatia to stop the vehicle and its occupants from leaving.
Suspicious Behavior and Forged Documents
Bhatia alerted the lawn management and watchman, who spotted a matching car with four to five individuals in black clothes. When approached, they claimed the car had a flat tyre, retrieved a spare from the boot, and drove off. The caller rang again, insisting he was PI Prahlad Sinha. Bhatia reached the spot and confronted the man, who arrived claiming to be en route.
Doubts arose when the suspect faltered on questions about his department—Butibori falls under Nagpur rural, not Thane—and produced an NIA ID card to bolster his claims. The forged ID listed the name ‘Prahlad Dilipkumar Sinha', with date of birth March 11, 1996, rank as assistant chief intelligence officer, posted in Nagpur, and validity until August 31, 2052. The card also featured a government of India logo, his photograph, and official text.
Chase and Arrest Details
Unconvinced, Bhatia photographed the ID and suspect discreetly before demanding more details, like office address and senior's name. The man evaded and fled in an orange car with an accomplice, abandoning associate Tejas Dahekar at the scene. Bhatia immediately informed DCP crime branch Rahul Maknikar, triggering a swift response.
Crime branch, led by police inspector Vinayak Golhe and sub-inspector Vijay Gite, launched a pursuit using technical surveillance to track the suspect's mobile and vehicle. Coordinated with the Nagpur city police control room, the team chased him through routes including Ring Road, Pratap Nagar, and areas towards Butibori. The Butibori rural police intercepted the vehicle in Satgaon and handed over the suspect.
Investigation Reveals Inconsistencies
A search at the crime branch revealed glaring inconsistencies: his Aadhaar showed a date of birth of March 3, 2001, with name variations like Prahlad Singh. The seized items included ₹8,530 cash (returned after verification), the mobile phone, and a car, collectively valued at ₹3,25,000 in recovered property.
An FIR was registered at Yashodhara Nagar police station on January 28 morning under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections 204 (impersonating a public servant), 335 (making false document), 336(2) (forgery punishment), 340(1) and 340(2) (forgery offences), and 337 (forgery of public records).
Potential Links to Larger Racket
Police suspect this incident may link to a larger impersonation racket aimed at intimidating or extorting property owners by posing as officials. Investigations continue to trace accomplices, verify vehicle involvement, and probe connections to similar frauds, highlighting ongoing efforts to curb such deceptive practices in the region.
