Woman poses as IPS officer during lockdown in Bhubaneswar, detained
BHUBANESWAR: Mahila police on Thursday detained a woman for allegedly impersonating herself as an IPS officer and instructing lower-rung cops to supply her essential and non-essential commodities during the lockdown in Bhubaneswar.
Sarmistha Behera, the alleged imposter, had introduced herself as an IPS officer of 2018 batch. She also claimed to have been posted at Biju Patnaik State Police Academy (BPSPA) here. She lived in Forest Park area in the capital city.
Sources said she recently contacted some subordinate staff of different stations and identified herself as IPS officer. She demanded immediate supply of several essential commodities and other facilities at her doorstep. She also asked the cops to arrange some cash, food and lockdown vehicle passes for her, sources said.
“Our personnel raised suspicion on her and informed me. During verification, we found she was an imposter. Though the case occurred under Capital police limits, a case against her has been registered at Mahila police station. She was being questioned,” a senior police officer told TOI. During search in her home, police seized a khaki uniform, fake identity card and a toy gun. Police also seized several photographs, featuring her in fake policing activities and raids.
Police said her motive was to cheat people. “We heard that she took several innocent people for a ride and extorted money from them. She also threatened several people to frame them in false cases and blackmailed them. Her criminal antecedents are being examined,” the police officer said.
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