Bhubaneswar, 26 June (H.S.): A man allegedly posing as an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer to intimidate people and gain undue influence has been arrested by Saheed Nagar Police in Bhubaneswar on Friday.

The accused has been identified as Varada Sudhir, a resident of Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. Police said he was arrested on charges of impersonating a senior bureaucrat and allegedly cheating individuals by falsely claiming to hold a high-ranking government position.

According to police sources, the accused introduced himself as a Sub-Collector while moving around Bhubaneswar and used the fabricated identity to assert authority and intimidate people. Investigators said he deliberately cultivated the appearance of an official, including visiting an optical store and purchasing spectacles to reinforce his impersonation.

Authorities stated that his suspicious behaviour and repeated attempts to threaten or pressure individuals led to complaints being filed against him. Following verification of his credentials, the Saheed Nagar Police detained and subsequently arrested him.

Preliminary investigation suggests that the accused may have used the fake identity to mislead people and possibly gain personal advantage. Police are also probing whether he was involved in any financial fraud or had cheated additional victims while posing as an IAS officer.

Further investigation is underway to determine the full extent of the impersonation, including potential links to other incidents or individuals who may have been targeted.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda