How Fake IAS Officer Saurabh Tripathi Fooled States, Businessmen, and Officials

Introduction

The arrest of Saurabh Tripathi, a 36-year-old impostor who posed as an IAS officer, has shocked officials, businessmen, and even his former classmates. For years, he lived a double life, infiltrated high-security government zones, and conned people across multiple states, exploiting systemic loopholes and the blind trust in bureaucratic authority.

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Arrest and Seizure of Luxury Assets

Tripathi was caught during a routine vehicle checking drive in Lucknow, where police discovered:

• Six luxury vehicles including Range Rover, Mercedes Benz C 220, and Toyota Fortuner.

• Forged government passes and ID cards.

• Evidence of his fabricated designation as a “Cabinet Special Secretary.”

Police confirmed that he lived in upscale apartments in Lucknow and Noida, further strengthening the illusion of power and influence.

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Tactics of Deception

Authorities revealed that Tripathi used confidence and theatrics to gain entry into closed-door government meetings and even functioned as a chief guest at events.

• He moved around with private bodyguards, one of whom wore a police uniform, intimidating security staff.

• At official meetings, he often arrived in a Toyota Fortuner, but switched to high-end cars like a Mercedes or Defender when negotiating shady deals.

• He frequently posted carefully posed photographs with ministers, bureaucrats, and religious leaders on social media, adding credibility to his claims.

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Multiple Identities Across States

Tripathi’s network of fraud spanned Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, and Delhi.

• In Lucknow, he introduced himself as a special secretary in the UP government.

• Outside the state, he reinvented himself as a Union government officer, assuring people that he was soon to be posted in the UP cadre.

This fabricated narrative helped him extract money and favors from unsuspecting individuals.

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Residences and Aura of Influence

Investigators traced multiple properties linked to him:

• Three residences in Mau (his hometown).

• A flat in Noida’s Garima Vihar.

• A plush apartment in Lucknow’s Shalimar One World (Gomtinagar Extension).

Though rented, these residences gave an impression of wealth and power, strengthening his fabricated persona.

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Shock Among College Mates

Tripathi’s college friends expressed disbelief at his arrest.

• He studied BCA in Ghaziabad (2006–2009).

• Known for being overconfident and flaunting wealth since his college days, he often carried expensive phones and bikes.

• He claimed his father was a politician in Mau and that he worked in the IT ministry post-college.

• Despite being below average in academics, his social media display of success left classmates stunned.

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Police Investigation and Next Steps

• According to DCP Crime Kamlesh Dixit, even Tripathi’s close assistant did not know about his real identity.

• Police are now investigating his sources of income, his connections across states, and how he managed to hire men in police uniforms.

• Lucknow police confirmed they are gathering evidence of his fraudulent activities in Bihar, Delhi, Uttarakhand, and Madhya Pradesh.

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Conclusion

The case of Saurabh Tripathi highlights how one man exploited the gaps in systemic verification, manipulated symbols of authority, and deceived people across states for years. His arrest underscores the urgent need for stricter ID checks, event security verification, and vigilance to prevent similar impersonation scandals.

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