U-19 cricketer held for impersonating IPS officer

Many people, including star cricketer Rishabh Pant have been allegedly duped by the player, who has reportedly played for Haryana at the junior level.

New Delhi: He played Under-19 cricket and is “obsessed” with staying in five-star hotels and getting photographed with models but landed in police net after allegedly duping several people, including cricketer Rishabh Pant of Rs 1.63 crore and Taj Hotel, after posing as a senior Karnataka Police official and a former Mumbai Indians player.

Mrinank Singh (25) was placed under arrest on Christmas day from Delhi airport while trying to fly out to Hong Kong after immigration officers who were armed with a Look Out Notice detained him, officials said on Wednesday.

He is said to have played U-19 cricket for Haryana.

The arrest came following Delhi Police’s investigation into a complaint filed in August 2022 by the hotel where he coughed up a bill of Rs 5.53 lakh for a seven-day stay but did not pay, claiming first that his sponsor company would pay it and later promising to send his driver to settle the bill.

At the time of arrest, Singh allegedly tried to influence the immigration officials by posing as Karnataka Additional Director General of Police Alok Kumar and pretending to call senior officials. During interrogation, he also claimed that his father is a former international cricketer and is working with a leading Indian airlines.

During interrogation, police claimed, he told investigators that he duped luxury hotels by impersonating as a Mumbai Indians cricketer and as a senior IPS officer. He allegedly used to stay in hotels and leave without paying the bills.

According to police officials, his victims allegedly included hotels, bars, restaurants and cab drivers among others. Pant has also been also duped of Rs 1.63 crore in 2020-21 allegedly by Singh, who is a BCom and MBA holder. He also allegedly used names and designations of senior officers for booking rooms in various hotels and resorts.

Investigators claimed he also used to pose as a Mumbai Indians player to impress people. He also allegedly presented himself as a brand ambassador of an international sports brand.