Delhi authorities arrest four suspects for impersonating tax officials and extracting bribes through forged IDs; smugglers linked to the scheme face charges in a ₹35 lakh fraud case.
Delhi police impersonated income tax officers to swindle ₹35 lakh from a former soldier and his associates. Fake IDs and counterfeit documents played a central role in the scam.
Delhi crime, income tax fraud, smugglers arrested, forged documents, bribery scam, Former soldier case, Delhi Police action
Delhi police have arrested four individuals involved in a ₹35 lakh bribery scam where a former soldier and alleged smugglers orchestrated a plan to pose as income tax officials. The crime, uncovered by the Delhi Police’s Crime Branch, involved forged identity cards and counterfeit employment letters to dupe victims. Officers confirmed the arrests were made on December 4, 2024, following months of surveillance and digital trail analysis.
The mastermind behind the scam, identified as Ashutosh Shrivastav, alias Ajay Kumar, allegedly leveraged his military background to build trust with victims. He claimed to be a high-ranking income tax officer and used his I-Card to convince four individuals—including a resident of Muzaffarpur in Bihar—to pay ₹35 lakh in exchange for fake job offers. The victim, who initially handed over ₹28 lakh through bank transfers and UP-I cards between 2024 and 2025, later discovered the documents were fake when he sought employment in Delhi.
Smuggler Rajendra Tivari from Muzaffarpur played a critical role in luring the victim. He met the complainant on behalf of Ashutosh, a tactic police described as a calculated effort to gain credibility. The scammers also created fake appointments at the Finance Ministry in Delhi and the Home Ministry in Gurugram, where the victims were allegedly employed temporarily. However, when the victims attempted to report for work, they were sent to Trivandrum instead, raising doubts. Upon verification, authorities found all I-Cards and appointment letters to be counterfeit.
The fraud’s scale is evident in the meticulous execution. Ashutosh and his associates solicited ₹7 lakh as advance fees from potential victims through an agent at the PVR Mall in Saket. Additional bribes totaling ₹28 lakh were transferred via multiple bank accounts and UP-I cards. To seal the deal, they provided the four victims with forged appointment letters from two government departments and fake I-Cards. However, when the victims confronted them for refunds, the scammers fled, issuing threats over phone calls.
Police allege Ashutosh carried pistols and frequently changed vehicles, operating under the alias Ajay Singh. He is said to possess 15-20 mobile phones and remains at large. The victim, who managed to recover part of the money, was pressured by Ashutosh to deposit the amount in untraceable accounts. When he refused, Ashutosh allegedly closed communication channels, leaving the victim in limbo.
The case highlights the sophistication of such scams, targeting vulnerable individuals seeking government jobs. Investigators noted that Ashutosh’s use of a military identity and a forged income tax officer status was a key factor in deceiving the victim. The Delhi Police’s Crime Branch is now scrutinizing the digital footprints linked to the transfers and the smugglers’ network.
Legal proceedings against the accused are underway, with charges related to cheating, fraud, and forgery. The victims, who allege emotional and financial trauma, are under police protection. Police have not disclosed the exact timeline for trial but confirmed the case will proceed to court shortly.
Delhi residents and citizens are urged to remain vigilant against such impersonation scams. As similar cases surface, authorities emphasize the importance of verifying government-related communications through official channels. The Financial Commissioner of Income Tax has also been informed to review similar dubious claims linked to fake officers.
The next phase of the investigation will focus on tracing the smugglers’ network and recovering the remaining ₹7 lakh. Ashutosh’s alleged connections and use of multiple aliases suggest a possible organized crime syndicate involved. Witness statements and bank records are being processed to build a stronger case.
