Imposter arrested for posing as ADM, duping people of lakhs in govt job, land scam

A habitual impersonator, who allegedly posed as an Additional District Magistrate (ADM) to cheat multiple people to the tune of ₹60 lakh on the pretext of securing government jobs and arranging land allotments has been arrested by a team of Delhi Police.

The accused has been identified as Pawan Kumar Pandey or Varun Kumar Pandey, a resident of Gandhi Vihar, Delhi. The 43-year-old was apprehended by a team from PP Sidhipura, PS DBG Road, read a statement from the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central District).

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According to police, Pandey “posed as an Additional District Magistrate and preyed on trust”. He deceived victims by projecting himself as a senior government officer having close links to top officials, IANS reported.

This comes after a complaint was filed on March 23 at the PP Sidhipura, wherein the accused allegedly introduced himself as “Varun Kumar Pandey, ADM, Uttar Pradesh.”
He was accused of falsely assuring victims of government jobs and allotment of plots in Noida under various official schemes.

“Cheating of approximately ₹60 lakh on the pretext of government jobs and land allotment was exposed,” the statement read.

Based on the complaint, an FIR was registered under relevant Sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including Sections 318(4), 316(2), 319(2), 204 and 61(2).

During investigation in the matter, police recovered multiple forged identity cards, visiting cards and documents. Besides this, the accused created a strong digital footprint with the help of WhatsApp chats, audio recordings, screenshots and e-Sakshya video evidence.

Officials have said that a “financial trail was established through bank accounts and UPI transactions,” confirming receipt of large sums of money from victims through intermediaries, according to IANS.

The accused even purchased a Swift car and a scooty from the proceeds of crime.

It was later revealed that the accused was using the identity of a real PCS officer. A senior officer said that verification with Varun Kumar Pandey, PCS (2015 batch), former ADM Jhansi, confirmed misuse of his identity and designation.