Fake IAS officer claims he’s Ajit Doval’s undercover agent, arrested, Tesla seized

NEW DELHI, AUG 10 : A man who posed as an IAS officer, claimed to be National Security Advisor Ajit Doval’s undercover agent and travelled across Bihar in a Tesla bearing a ‘Government of India’ board has been arrested in Khagaria, police said on Monday.

The accused, identified as Manish Gupta, was arrested from his residence in Jamalpur under the Gogri police station area after police acted on a tip-off. A search of his house led to the seizure of a Tesla car with a full self-driving feature, a Tata Safari, imported liquor, multiple mobile phones, bank cards and other valuables.

Khagaria SP Bhanu Pratap Singh said Gupta had allegedly been using his fake identity as an IAS officer to carry out fraud and cheating in different parts of Bihar.

“During interrogation, Gupta showed a card of the Central Vigilance Commission and claimed that he worked as an undercover agent under National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. He also showed an identity card mentioning him to be an IAS officer. Preliminary investigation showed that all these claims were fake,” Singh said.

FAKE IAS ID, DOVAL CONNECTION CLAIM

According to police, Gupta had created an elaborate identity around his alleged government connections. He reportedly presented himself as an IAS officer and also claimed to have links with the Central Vigilance Commission.

Police said the identity card recovered from his residence, which identified him as an IAS officer, was found to be fake during preliminary verification.

Gupta also allegedly told investigators that he was working as an undercover agent under Ajit Doval. Police said this claim too was found to be false.

The SP said Gupta had allegedly used the fabricated government identity to cheat people in Khagaria as well as other parts of Bihar.

TESLA WITH ‘GOVERNMENT OF INDIA’ BOARD SEIZED

Among the items recovered during the raid was a Tesla equipped with a full self-driving feature and carrying a ‘Government of India’ board.

“The Tesla car with full self-driving technology feature is a rarity in India,” Singh said.

Police also seized a Tata Safari from the premises. According to the police, Gupta used the Tesla while travelling across Bihar as part of his alleged fraudulent activities.

The recovery of the luxury vehicles has become a key part of the probe into how Gupta acquired his assets and whether they were linked to the alleged cheating and fraud.

31 LITRES OF FOREIGN LIQUOR, CARDS RECOVERED

The search of Gupta’s residence resulted in a long list of recoveries.

Police said they seized more than 31 litres of imported foreign liquor, along with large quantities of beer. Five Apple iPhones, 20 credit cards, eight debit cards and four cheque-books were also recovered.

Two horns believed to belong to a barasingha, or swamp deer, were also found at the house.

“Possession of which is punishable under the Wildlife Protection Act,” Singh said.

The recovery of the suspected wildlife trophies has also been included in the police investigation.

POLICE TO PROBE SOURCE OF ASSETS

Police suspect that Gupta accumulated substantial assets through fraud, deception and alleged corruption.

“The assets he acquired were through fraud, deception, or corruption,” Singh said.

Investigators are now examining Gupta’s properties and other assets to establish their source. The Bihar Police will also seek assistance from the Economic Offences Unit (EOU) as the investigation expands.

Singh said a large-scale probe would be carried out into the alleged fraud, impersonation and the source of Gupta’s assets.

The investigation is expected to look into how long Gupta had allegedly been impersonating an IAS officer, whom he may have cheated and how he acquired the vehicles and other valuables recovered from his residence.

-PTI