A 69-year-old man’s impersonation of a retired IPS officer to intervene in an investigation against his businessman friend has unearthed a web of deceit involving fake credentials, manipulation of government officials, and substantial financial gains.
The Conman’s Claims
Anil Katyal, a resident of Delhi’s upscale Greater Kailash-1 neighborhood, claimed to be a retired IPS officer (1979 batch) of the Manipur cadre. He also boasted of having held prominent positions, such as Director General of Police, Intelligence Bureau officer, and advisor to the Union Home Ministry. Katyal allegedly leveraged these false credentials to mislead junior police officers and secure their cooperation.
He even introduced himself as a former college mate of External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar. His fraudulent activities spanned from Delhi-NCR to as far as Dubai, according to the police.
Who Is Anil Katyal?
Police investigations reveal Katyal’s actual background:
An alumnus of St. Stephen’s College, where he studied chemistry.
An unsuccessful UPSC aspirant who later enrolled at Yale University for a doctorate but dropped out.
A former senior executive at Hindustan Lever, Yamaha, and Vodafone, retiring as Vice President of Corporate Affairs from Vodafone.
Despite his stable financial standing and residence in a plush bungalow, Katyal resorted to impersonation and fraud. Police are examining his bank transactions to understand his motivations further.
The Deceptive Tactics
According to Dinesh P., Additional Police Commissioner of Ghaziabad, Katyal misused his network of contacts from St. Stephen’s and his corporate career to con senior government officials. He often invoked high-profile names to bolster his credibility.
One instance involved Katyal allegedly using his purported connection to External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar to seek a meeting at the Ministry of External Affairs. He reportedly lobbied on behalf of Dubai billionaire Balvinder Singh Sahni, who was under investigation for massive fraud, and even demanded money from Sahni.
How He Was Caught
Katyal’s downfall came when he tried to protect his friend Vinod Kapoor, a construction company owner accused of fraud, from legal trouble. He introduced himself as a retired IPS officer and current advisor to the Ministry of Home Affairs to pressure police officials at a Ghaziabad police station.
He even visited the Ghaziabad police commissioner’s office, accompanied by accomplices posing as IPS officers, to lobby for Kapoor. His behavior raised suspicions when he insisted on taking a photograph with the commissioner. An online search revealed no records of an IPS officer from the 1979 batch, exposing his lies.
The Aftermath
Katyal and Kapoor have been arrested on charges of cheating, obstructing public servants in the discharge of their duties, and using intimidation to commit extortion.
When confronted by the media, Katyal dismissed the accusations, saying, “Don’t trouble me. I have answered many people. I have done enough in life.” Asked if he was truly an IPS officer, he replied, “I don’t know what I am.”
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Police have issued a warning to the public about such conmen, emphasizing that genuine former IAS/IPS officers would not resort to threats or support criminal activities.