FOR IMPERSONATING IAS OFFICER
MAPUSA: A 31-year-old man from Chhattisgarh was arrested in Calangute on Sunday after he successfully impersonated an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer and manipulated local police officers and business owners into believing he was an official on duty.
The accused, identified as Manoj Kumar from Raipur, arrived in Goa on December 5 and hired a taxi to travel to Calangute, where he booked a room at the Lambana Resort in Umtawado.
Over the course of his stay, he falsely presented himself as an IAS officer from Odisha, claiming he was soon to be transferred to Goa for further duties.
Kumar even convinced the taxi driver of his fabricated story, and the two became acquainted over the next several days.
On December 20, he returned to Goa and once again contacted the same taxi driver.
On the night of December 26, Kumar’s deception reached its peak.
At approximately 1.20 am, he arrived at the Calangute football parking area in a taxi and showed a fake IAS identity card to local police staff.
He convinced them to accompany him, claiming he was there to inspect the area on official business.
Under his influence, the officers, believing they were assisting a genuine IAS officer, accompanied him to Baga beach, where he approached two shacks and ordered them to cease operations immediately.
His threats didn’t stop there – he proceeded to prominent clubs in the Baga Tito’s Lane area and demanded that they shut down, warning that failure to comply would result in serious legal consequences.
His reign of intimidation continued until he dropped off the officers at their respective locations and returned to his hotel, leaving behind a trail of confusion and fear among the business owners who had been threatened.
It wasn’t until December 29, that the police, who had been investigating his actions, traced Kumar and arrested him for impersonating a government officer and attempting to coerce and intimidate local business owners.
The charges against him include cheating, impersonation and attempting to cause harm to public servants and private citizens under the guise of his fake authority.