THE JHARKHAND STORY DESK
Lucknow, Sept 5: The arrest of Saurabh Tripathi, a 36-year-old fake IAS officer, has shocked both police and public, unraveling a years-long scam that spanned multiple states and exploited bureaucratic loopholes. Tripathi lived a double life posing as a high-ranking official of both the Uttar Pradesh and Union governments while using luxury cars, armed guards, and social media clout to cement his false identity.
He was apprehended during a routine vehicle check in Lucknow, where police seized six luxury vehicles, including a Range Rover and Mercedes Benz C220, along with forged government IDs, fake passes, and high-end gadgets.
Swagger and Staged Power: Confidence Was His Weapon
“He walked and talked like a senior IAS officer,” said Rajesh Kumar Tripathi, Station House Officer, Wazirganj. “With private gunners dressed as security personnel, he’d stride into events and high-security government meetings without question.”
Lucknow police described Tripathi’s confidence as his most dangerous asset one that allowed him to breach bureaucratic circles, attend closed-door events as a ‘chief guest’, and even engage with ministers and top officials.
Fake Titles, Real Influence: Self-Styled ‘Cabinet Special Secretary’
Tripathi identified himself online and offline as a ‘Cabinet Special Secretary’, using this designation to build credibility. His social media was filled with staged selfies alongside bureaucrats, ministers, and religious figures, leaving little room for doubt in the minds of his victims.
“He’d carefully curate photos with high-ranking officials to maintain the illusion of legitimacy,” said the SHO.
Behind the Curtain: Changing Roles Across States
Tripathi operated seamlessly across Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Delhi, Uttarakhand, and Madhya Pradesh, altering his fake identity to suit local contexts. In UP, he claimed affiliation with the state secretariat, while in Delhi, he posed as a Union Government officer on the verge of a UP cadre posting.
According to DCP (Crime) Kamlesh Dixit, Tripathi’s own assistant was unaware of his true identity. “Even those closest to him didn’t know he was a fraud. That shows how convincingly he played the part,” Dixit noted.
Luxury Lifestyle Built on Lies
Investigators have traced multiple high-end properties linked to Tripathi three addresses in his hometown Mau, a flat in Noida’s Garima Vihar, and a rented apartment in Shalimar One World, Lucknow.
“These addresses were selected carefully to project an image of wealth and power,” the SHO said. All properties were rented, but their upscale nature added weight to his fraudulent claims.
Vehicles, Uniformed Guards and a Web of Deception
Tripathi maintained an entire persona, complete with rotating luxury cars Fortuner for formal meets, Defender or Mercedes for shady deals, police-style bodyguards, and fabricated documents. One guard was even found wearing a police uniform, which has now prompted an inquiry into how the impostor sourced uniforms and trained personnel.
College Friends Recall Early Signs of Narcissism and Lavish Taste
Tripathi’s college mates from Ghaziabad, where he studied BCA between 2006–2009, expressed disbelief at the recent developments.
“He was always overconfident,” said a former classmate on condition of anonymity. “Even in college, he had expensive bikes, high-end phones, and used to say his father was a politician from Mau. He once claimed he worked in the IT Ministry. We never imagined it was all fake.”
Widening Probe: Police Seek Victims Across States
Police are now investigating how far Tripathi’s scams stretched. “We suspect he cheated several businessmen, using his false identity to extract money and favors,” said an officer close to the investigation.
DCP Kamlesh Dixit confirmed that police are reaching out to authorities in Bihar, Uttarakhand, Delhi, and Madhya Pradesh to track his movements and identify victims.
Systemic Questions: How Did a Fake Officer Reach So Far?
Tripathi’s ease of entry into high-level events has raised serious questions about vetting procedures and security protocols for government meetings. Authorities are under pressure to find how one man bypassed multiple checkpoints without being caught for so long.
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