Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh – The arrest of fake IAS officer Saurabh Tripathi has exposed one of the most sophisticated impersonation schemes in recent memory, stunning officials and revealing how a single individual exploited systemic vulnerabilities to infiltrate high-security government zones. The 36-year-old fake IAS officer managed to dupe businessmen, attend closed-door meetings, and flaunt false authority for years across multiple states.
Police investigations have revealed that this fake IAS officer operated with remarkable confidence, using elaborate theatrical displays to maintain his deceptive persona and convince unsuspecting victims of his authenticity.
Sophisticated Modus Operandi Revealed
The fake IAS officer employed carefully orchestrated tactics to gain credibility and access to restricted areas. Station House Officer Rajesh Kumar Tripathi from Wazirganj revealed that the accused would arrive at events accompanied by private gunners acting as bodyguards, intimidating security personnel at meetings with bureaucrats and ministers.
This fake IAS officer’s confidence became his primary weapon, allowing him to bypass normal security protocols and gain entry to exclusive government events where his presence would typically require extensive verification and clearance procedures.
Luxury Vehicle Collection and Forged Documents
Lucknow police discovered the fake IAS officer’s extensive collection of luxury vehicles during a routine checking drive, seizing six high-end cars including a Range Rover and Mercedes Benz C 220. Along with the vehicles, authorities recovered forged passes and identification documents that supported his elaborate deception.
The fake IAS officer lived in upscale residences and maintained an impressive online presence, styling himself as a cabinet special secretary to enhance his credibility and attract potential victims across different states.
Strategic Vehicle Usage for Different Purposes
Investigating officers revealed the fake IAS officer’s calculated approach to vehicle selection based on his intended activities. According to investigators, Tripathi would drive a Fortuner to official meetings to maintain governmental appearances, but switched to a Mercedes or Defender when conducting questionable business deals.
This fake IAS officer also employed personal security guards, including one who wore a police uniform, adding another layer of authenticity to his elaborate deception. Investigators are currently probing how he sourced these personnel and obtained the uniforms.
Multi-State Operations and False Identities
The fake IAS officer operated across multiple states including Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, and Bihar, adapting his claimed position based on location. In Lucknow, he presented himself as a special secretary in the UP government, while outside the state, he reinvented himself as a Union government officer.
Police investigations revealed that this fake IAS officer convinced victims he was awaiting a high-profile UP cadre posting, using this false assurance to build trust and extract money from unsuspecting individuals seeking government favors.
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Social Media Strategy and Fabricated Connections
The fake IAS officer carefully curated his social media presence with photographs alongside ministers, senior bureaucrats, and religious leaders to support his claims of being a powerful government official. These strategically posed images served as powerful evidence for many victims, effectively erasing their doubts about his authenticity.
Station House Officer noted that for many people, these fabricated social media connections provided sufficient proof of the fake IAS officer’s legitimacy, demonstrating how visual evidence can be manipulated to support elaborate deceptions.
Multiple Residences Across Different Cities
Police investigations traced three residences connected to the fake IAS officer: properties in his hometown Mau, a flat in Noida’s Garima Vihar, and a luxurious apartment in Lucknow’s Gomtinagar extension at Shalimar One World. All properties were rented to support his fabricated story of influence and wealth.
According to police, the fake IAS officer deliberately maintained these multiple addresses to create an impressive aura, with each location adding credibility to his claims of high-level government connections and substantial personal resources.
College Background and Early Deceptive Patterns
Former college friends expressed shock at learning about the fake IAS officer’s arrest, revealing that deceptive patterns were evident even during his student years. A close friend who studied BCA with him between 2006-2009 described Tripathi as overconfident since college, leading a luxurious lifestyle with expensive phones and bikes.
The fake IAS officer had told classmates his father was a politician in Mau district and owned a Noida flat. Despite being below average in studies, he later claimed to work in the IT ministry, shocking friends when his social media displayed apparent professional success.
Ongoing Investigation and Broader Implications
DCP Crime Kamlesh Dixit confirmed that even the fake IAS officer’s assistant remained unaware of his true identity, demonstrating the sophisticated nature of his deception. Lucknow police continue collecting information about states he visited to defraud people, with confirmed operations in Bihar, Uttarakhand, and Delhi.
This case highlights critical gaps in government security protocols and verification systems that allowed such extensive impersonation to continue undetected across multiple states for extended periods.
