Man held for posing as secretary of Union minister to seek favour

The alleged impersonator, identified as Abhishek Dwivedi, was arrested on Thursday by a crime branch team, which had been trailing him and camping in Mumbai, Bangalore, Rewa and Indore for his arrest after case of impersonation and cheating was registered on July 5.

The Delhi Police on Friday said they had arrested a 27-year-old man from Madhya Pradesh’s Indore for allegedly impersonating the private secretary (PS) of Union home minister Amit Shah, and calling a personal staff of Union road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari, seeking cancellation of the transfer of a transport department official in Gwalior.

The alleged impersonator, identified as Abhishek Dwivedi, was arrested on Thursday by a crime branch team, which had been trailing him and camping in Mumbai, Bangalore, Rewa and Indore for his arrest after case of impersonation and cheating was registered on July 5.

A statement issued by Delhi Police said a complaint was received on July 3 from the Union Home Minister’s office, alleging that someone misused the minister’s personal secretary’s name and position to seek favour from the personal staff of the Union transport minister regarding cancellation of the transfer of a motor licensing officer. A case was registered and investigation was taken up by the crime branch, the statement read.

The MLO had been transferred, an officer related to the case said, requesting anonymity. “Gadkari’s office received three calls on July 3. The officials became doubtful because the job was not so important that it required the intervention of a senior bureaucrat in the home minister’s office. The matter was communicated to the HM’s PS, who denied making such calls and filed a police complaint,” said the officer.

The ministries of home affairs as well as transport and highways did not comment despite separate queries sent regarding the incident, case and arrest of the impersonator.

During the probe, the police statement read, it was learnt that the suspect, Abhishek Dwivedi, is a resident of Madhya Pradesh’s Rewa, and is involved in criminal activities. Through technical investigation, the investigating team tracked the suspect’s location to Navi Mumbai and raided the rented flat, where he had been living with his wife. However, Dwivedi managed to give the police a slip by the time they reached his flat, said another crime branch officer, who asked not to be named.

“Dwivedi’s next location was traced to Bangalore but he fled from there as well before the raiding team could reach. He later moved to Indore and was caught from a hotel with the help of the local police. The mobile phone and SIM card used in making calls has been recovered. Dwivedi is found to be previously involved in 13 cases of cheating, robbery and dacoity. He was also wanted by the Rewa police,” the officer added.

The investigating team produced Dwivedi before a court in Indore and secured his transit remand custody. He is being brought to Delhi via road and is expected to reach the city by Saturday morning. Dwivedi’s father is employed in the electricity department in Rewa..

“His wife told us that he holds a Bachelor in Civil Engineering degree . We are verifying it. Dwivedi’s association with Gwalior’s transport department officials will be probed. If needed, the official will be asked to join the investigation. So far, we have learnt that he committed the crime on the directions of his friend Vinay Singh Baghel, who is yet to be caught,” said the officer.