Name: Harikesh Pandey, Education: B.Com graduate, Occupation: Impostor IAS defrauding women... This is the tale of a cunning con caught in Hardoi district of UP. Masquerading as an IAS officer, he targeted numerous female officials, swindling them of lakhs under the pretense of marriage. During investigations, it was uncovered that the accused utilized matrimonial websites with his counterfeit IAS profile to ensnare female officials, progressing the marriage discussions to extort money. When a victim reported it to the police, his scam was revealed. Currently, Harikesh Pandey is behind bars, with further investigations ongoing. Reports suggest that many more women fell prey to his schemes, though they may not have yet come forward.
How the Impostor IAS Was Caught
On January 5, 2025, a female official approached the Hardoi cyber police station with a complaint. She alleged that an individual disguised as Hardoi's Joint Magistrate had initiated a marriage proposal with her, subsequently claiming non-payment of salary to extort 1 lakh cash and 1.25 lakh via online transfer.
After a few days, when the woman demanded her money back, the accused cited a transfer from Hardoi to Kasganj, arousing her suspicion. Reaching out to the Hardoi administration revealed that there was no IAS officer by that name stationed in the district. Ultimately, the female officer filed a complaint at the Hardoi cyber station, prompting police to begin investigations.
Details About the Accused Harikesh Pandey
Further investigations revealed that the accused, Harikesh Pandey, was a resident of Pratapgarh district in UP. His native village is Bhagwanpur Mufrid under the jurisdiction of Dehloopur police station. Using his differently-abled brother, Mukesh Kumar Pandey’s identity, he fabricated a fake IAS profile on marriage websites. Furthermore, he prepared counterfeit appointment letters, PAN cards, and bank passbooks. To further substantiate his false identity, he edited a photograph with Hardoi’s DM.
The police investigation also uncovered that Harikesh Pandey had swindled another female official in Lucknow, similar to the incident with the Unnao officer. This case is under investigation as well.
Police Statement
The Hardoi SP explained that on January 5, 2025, a female officer stationed in a neighboring district submitted a fraud application. Following the investigation, a case was registered, leading to the arrest of the accused, Harikesh Pandey. Disguising himself as an IAS officer, he defrauded vast amounts under the guise of marriage. He had created a fake ID on a matrimonial website along with numerous counterfeit documents. The investigation is ongoing in other districts as well.
