'Uniform for Rs 2,200, SPO card for Rs 500': Man posing as SI to dodge toll, stay in Gurgaon hotels; arrested

GURGAON: A 34-year-old man, who posed as a sub-inspector (SI) to stay in hotels, was arrested on Friday.Mukesh Kumar, who also tried to avoid paying toll tax and flaunted fake authority in public, was arrested by Civil Lines police officials following a complaint lodged by the manager of Gurgaon's Shubham Hotel. Police said the accused drove a rented e-rickshaw in Rajasthan's Khatu and frequently travelled between Jhajjar and Khatu. "To avoid paying toll tax during these journeys and to project influence, he procured a fake special police officer (SPO) identity card from a person in Jhajjar for Rs 500 and got a police uniform stitched from Jharoda Kalan in Delhi for Rs 2,200. He was in an inebriated state when he was arrested," an officer said. According to police, the hotel manager approached them on Jan 17 after Mukesh, wearing the Haryana Police SI uniform, checked into the hotel and produced an Aadhaar card as identity proof. "The manager grew suspicious when the accused returned later after he paid Rs 600 for the stay and began making unnecessary enquiries about the room. When questioned, the suspect became nervous and attempted to flee but was overpowered by hotel staff and handed over to the police," the officer added.Mukesh, a graduate and resident of Kasni village in Jhajjar district, admitted he posed as the SI to ‘intimidate people and gain undue advantages". A case was registered against him under relevant sections. From his possession, police seized an Aadhaar card, a PAN card, a fake SPO ID card and the uniform. Mukesh was produced before a Gurgaon court on Sunday and was taken for a one-day remand.