A 39-year-old man who posed as a senior government officer for more than two years and extorted money from unsuspecting citizens was arrested by the Film Nagar police on Tuesday.
The accused, identified as Bathini Shashikanth, impersonated IAS, IPS and NIA officers to gain public confidence and used to collect huge amount of money under the promise of extending official favours.
According to the police, Shashikanth projected himself as a Deputy Commissioner in the Mines Department and at times claimed to be a senior IPS officer. He created fake IAS, IPS and NIA identity cards, visiting cards and other forged documents to appear legitimate. To complete the deception, he hired two bodyguards with weapons from Tamil Nadu, fixed police sirens to his private vehicle and used walkie-talkies to imitate official communication.
Investigation also revealed that he circulated a forged Telangana State Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (TSIIC) land allotment letter to lure victims, promising industrial plots and government clearances. The case came into light following a complaint by one Ali Hassan, managing director of Gold Gym, who was cheated of ₹10,50,665 after being assured help in procuring industrial land. Once the money was collected, Shashikanth reportedly absconded.
Following a tip-off, the Film Nagar police apprehended the accused from his temporary residence. He was booked under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for cheating, forgery, impersonation, criminal intimidation and extortion. Two of his associates, identified as Praveen and Vimal, who acted as personal bodyguards, are still at large and efforts are underway to trace them.
During the arrest, the police seized two mobile phones, six SIM cards, two walkie-talkies and a fake identity card. Authorities have advised citizens to remain vigilant and report suspicious individuals or firms claiming government affiliation to prevent further fraud.
Published – November 26, 2025 07:34 pm IST
