A elaborate scam unraveling in Mumbai: Crime Branch officers have detained 41-year-old Mohammad Tariq Pathan from Khed, who posed as Pawan Kumar Yadav, private secretary to Home Minister Amit Shah. Apprehended at a Vashi hotel by APMC Market, Pathan dialed senior police personnel, attempting to sway decisions in criminal matters. He coerced FIR filings and intervened for accused relief, allegedly fleecing money from clients promising ministerial pull.
To lend authenticity, Pathan amassed SIM cards from various states using proxies and programmed numbers as ‘PS to MHA’ on auxiliary devices. This ploy convinced officers the directives came straight from Delhi’s power corridors. Notably, on March 1, he contacted a Connaught Place inspector at Grant Road over a woman’s warrant, advising restraint—after the cop received a prior alert.
Police believe this fraudster’s reach extends to several cases, with his habit of discarding phones and SIMs complicating prior traces. Ongoing questioning seeks details on his victim tally and illicit gains. Formal charges are in place as the probe deepens.
This case spotlights vulnerabilities in communication security within policing. Mumbai authorities are reinforcing protocols against impersonation, while encouraging public vigilance to safeguard the integrity of justice delivery.