Cheat poses as IPS officer, makes city trader part with Rs 1.65 lakh

 A 43-year-old man has been arrested for posing as a Rajasthan-cadre IPS officer and cheating Rs 1.65 lakh from a mobile shop owner in central Delhi’s Karol Bagh.

Satheesh Nair claimed to be an assistant commissioner of police with Jaipur Police who was on temporary duty in Delhi for the state Assembly election earlier in the month, police said.
On Tuesday, Satheesh was held outside a hotel in Karol Bagh with two uniforms having badge and rank of an IPS officer. He hails from Kerala’s Ernakulam district. The arrest followed a complaint filed by Tilak Nagar resident Kultar Singh, who runs a shop in Karol Bagh.

“A wireless set was also recovered from his possession,” said a police officer. Kultar alleged that Satheesh had purchased two used mobile phones in exchange of two other mobile phones, and a payment of Rs 25,000 was made on January 30. He claimed to be an IPS officer.

“Satheesh told me he was staying at Hotel Rama in Karol Bagh. Thereafter, he visited my shop on a daily basis and started exchanging mobile phones,” Kultar told police.

Satheesh had to pay Rs 65,000 for the deals, for which he asked Kultar to collect the money from his hotel on February 3.

Kultar went to Hotel Rama, where he saw Satheesh in uniform. However, Satheesh claimed his ATM card was not working. He said he would return to Jaipur and transfer the money to Kultar’s bank account.

“Kultar claimed that Satheesh also sought a loan of Rs 1 lakh, saying he was running short of money. Trusting Satheesh to be a police officer, Kultar handed over Rs 1 lakh,” the officer added. Satheesh returned to Kultar’s shop on February 6 and promised to pay back as soon as possible. But Satheesh never kept his promise.

Kultar then found out that there was no ‘Satheesh Kumar Nair’ in the IPS officers’ list. “Kultar also came to know that Satheesh had cheated many other shop owners in Karol Bagh posing as an IPS officer,” the officer said.

Kultar approached police on Monday and informed them that Satheesh would come to Hotel Rama on Tuesday. Satheesh was apprehended when he came there in a Honda Civic car around 7 pm.
A case has been registered and he faces charges under the Indian Penal Code for cheating and impersonating a public servant.