On Wednesday the Delhi police arrested a man for impersonating as an IPS officer. The 34-year-old man, identified later as Divay Malhotra, was arrested at around 10:30 PM from a picket in West Delhi while trying to pose as an IPS officer driving his car bearing a Delhi police logo, a red and blue beacon and a public announcement system.

The Incident

According to The Hindustan Times, the policemen at the picket noticed the Hyundai Accent sedan with the beacon and assumed that their superior ACP has arrived. As soon as the man stepped out of his car, he introduced himself as an IPS officer.

Speaking to The Logical Indian, Deputy Commissioner of Police (West) Monika Bhardwaj said, “The policemen at the picket realised that he did not have an officer-like behaviour and thus they asked for an ID card, which he failed to produce.”

According to The Hindustan Times, the man got furious and started reproaching the police officers at the picket. His actions were found suspicious, and thus an identity proof was asked. When he could not produce the evidence, he got enraged and claimed to be the son of an Assistant Commissioner of Police.

Talking to The Logical Indian, ACP, KSN Subudhi revealed, “Divay Malhotra lives in Meenakshi Garden in Delhi and owns a cyber café. One more beacon light was discovered from his car.”

DCP (West) Monika Bhardwaj also added that both his parents are doctors. “He has been booked under IPC Section 170 (personating a public servant), Section 419(personating), Section 186 (Obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions) and Section 353 (Assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty),” Bhardwaj informed The Logical Indian.

According to The Daily Pioneer, the police officials are investigating the source of the sticker on his car as it seemed to have been computer generated.

Actual identity of the accused

Divay Malhotra, the accused, confessed that he faked his identity to impress his friends. During interrogation, he told the police that he has studied up to 12th Standard, states The Hindustan Times. He belonged to a family of doctors with his father operating a private clinic while his mother had recently retired from Lady Hardinge Hospital and presently working as a professor at a private University. The accused, as per The Times Of India, is married and is a father of two sons.

The Logical Indian take

It is has become quite a common practice in India to impersonate someone or misuse the position of a family member as an excuse to get away with the breaking of rules. Many are still unaware that it is a criminal offence to impersonate a public servant. Such incidents of posing to be a high ranking public officer can lead to rather extreme consequences at times.

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