Guwahati Police on Sunday night arrested a man who had allegedly posing as a senior official of the Union Ministry of Defence and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
The accused, identified as Dipjyoti Das from Sarpara village in Palashbari, had reportedly been introducing himself as an executive member of the Defence Ministry and DRDO while intimidating people with a pistol.
Police said Das frequently moved around in a white Fortuner SUV (AS 01 BS 9533) equipped with fake designation plates and a siren. He often patrolled the VIP Point near Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport, presenting himself as a high-ranking government officer.
Acting on a tip-off, police intercepted the vehicle. Das tried to escape but was quickly apprehended. Officers seized the SUV and recovered several forged documents along with a pistol cover, although the suspected weapon has not yet been found.
Sources revealed that Das had been using the fake identity for two to three years, leveraging forged credentials to create fear, gain VIP-level privileges, and avoid scrutiny. He had also been staying as a VIP tenant, maintaining an atmosphere of intimidation in the locality.
Further information shows he once appeared as a “special guest” at a Rongali Bihu celebration in 2010, allegedly using false identity proofs. Another allegation claims he secured a fake doctoral degree from “South Bank University, London,” in January 2022.
Police suspect he may be linked to a larger fraud network, and a deeper investigation is currently underway.