Gujarat sees rise in fake police with 37 arrests, tenth most in India

In a startling trend, 37 people posing as police officers have been arrested across Gujarat in the past year, placing the state on 10th position nationwide for fake cop cases. Uttar Pradesh leads the list, followed by Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Bihar.

Recent incidents include the arrest of jeweller Yuvraj Rathod in Surat, who tried to enter a Garba event with a walkie-talkie while dressed in plain clothes. 

In another incident two youths Nayan Parmar and Gaurang Bhil were caught with forged Special Operations Group (SOG) ID cards used for extortion.

Police say motives range from financial scams and extortion to show off the power, or fulfilling an unachieved dream of joining the force. 

37 arrests

Of the 37 arrests, 17 were for digital arrests,11 for monetary scams, 4 for intimidation, 3 for financial fraud, 2 for other crimes.

Authorities warn that festivals like Navratri provide cover for impersonators, who use fake IDs to blackmail late-night revellers or demand money. Experts add that most offenders are driven by greed, thrill-seeking, and a desire to instill fear with minimal effort.