Man arrested for impersonating IAS officer and district collector in Indore

A 28-year-old man who falsely claimed to be an Indian Administrative Service officer and district collector to establish his influence in Indore has been arrested by police. Himanshu Panchal was apprehended by Lasudiya police station after authorities received information that a resident of house number 1565-A, Shubh Aangan Premium in Omex City-1 was impersonating a senior administrative official.

Police Commissioner of Indore Santosh Kumar Singh had issued directions to identify and take effective action against individuals committing fraud with people in the city. Following these instructions, and under the guidance of Additional Police Commissioner Mayank Awasthi, Deputy Commissioner of Police Zone-2 Aman Singh Rathore, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Zone-2 Amarendra Singh, ACP Parag Saini and Station House Officer Inspector Rajkumar Yadav, the Lasudiya police station team conducted the operation against the accused.

The incident came to light on September 2, 2026, when police received information that a person living in the mentioned address was claiming to be an IAS officer and district collector, using the prestige of the position to intimidate people in the surrounding area. Taking the seriousness of the information into account, the police team immediately reached the spot. During questioning, the young man living in the upper portion of the house introduced himself as "Raj Soni" and claimed to be a district collector.

When police asked him to present documents proving he was an IAS officer, including his posting orders and related papers, he failed to produce any satisfactory documentation and kept changing his statements. Under police interrogation, he revealed his real identity as Himanshu Panchal, age 28 years, resident of C-18, Janakpur Society, Keshavnagar, Subhash Bridge, Sabarmati police station area, Ahmedabad, Gujarat. He is currently residing on rent in Omex City-1, Indore.

During questioning, the accused admitted that he is not an IAS officer. He revealed that with the objective of increasing his stature, prestige and influence in society, he used to present himself as a senior administrative officer and district collector.

Police seized several items from the accused's residence, including a fake black nameplate reading "IAS RAJ SONI: District Collector," a photo frame inscribed with "IAS Satyameva Jayate," material bearing "Satyameva Jayate: Collector Sahab," and other misleading materials being used to portray himself as an administrative officer.

Based on the activities of the accused and the material recovered from the spot, Lasudiya police station registered crime number 1370/2026 under Section 204 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and arrested the accused. Detailed interrogation and investigation in the case is ongoing.

A check of the accused's previous records revealed that an earlier case is also registered against him at Adalaj police station, Gandhinagar district, Gujarat. FIR number 441/2026 dated May 23, 2026, was registered under Sections 316(5) and 318(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Police are obtaining detailed information regarding that case as well.