Navi Mumbai man impersonates IAS officer in Union home minister Amit Shah's office to pressure cop, arrested

MUMBAI: A man who allegedly impersonated an IAS officer attached to the office of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and attempted to influence a police officer during the execution of a warrant in a cheque-bouncing case has been arrested by the Mumbai Police Crime Branch. The crime intelligence unit of the Crime Branch arrested Mohammed Tariq Pathan (42), a resident of Vashi in Navi Mumbai, for cheating and impersonation and under Information Technology Act. Police said Hanumantu Raju, attached to Connaught Place Police Station, had come to Mumbai to execute a bailable warrant issued in a cheque dishonour case under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act. Shortly after he contacted the accused woman, he allegedly received a threat call from the impersonator.During probe, it transpired that it was Tariq Pathan who allegedly posed as "IAS officer Pawan Kumar Yadav, PS to Amit Shah" and called a Delhi police constable, pressuring him not to take action against accused woman Asmita Sarang. Investigations revealed the accused had obtained a SIM card using another person's identity to whom he paid Rs 3,000 and used it to pose as a senior government official. Following a complaint, the case was transferred to the Crime Branch, which traced and arrested the accused. Further investigation is underway.