Belagavi Police have arrested two individuals for creating fake Facebook profiles of senior IPS and IAS officers, including the Superintendent of Police (SP) of Belagavi, Dr. Bhimashankar Guled. The accused, Vijayakumar Kishorlal Tiwari (46) from Chhatarpur district in Madhya Pradesh, and Arbaaz Hasamkhan (19) from Aluwar district in Rajasthan, were nabbed after an investigation into online fraud.
Speaking to the media, SP Dr. Guled revealed that the duo had used these fake accounts to mislead people. In 2021, they created a fraudulent Facebook profile in Dr. Guled’s name, sending friend requests to his colleagues and acquaintances. They falsely claimed that Dr. Guled had been transferred and was selling an expensive sofa set at a discounted rate, exploiting his name to gain trust and financial benefit.
Further investigations revealed that the accused had also created fake profiles of other senior officials, including the Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSP) of Gadag and Mandya and several IAS officers.
Dr. Guled urged the public to be vigilant and avoid falling prey to such scams. He stressed that no IPS or IAS officer would engage in selling personal items like furniture through social media. “People should refrain from transferring money to unknown accounts or engaging in social media transactions without proper verification,” he cautioned.
Investigating officer Sunilkumar S. Nandeshwar, along with additional superintendents of police Shruti N.S. and R.S. Basargi, highlighted the growing prevalence of online fraud. They advised citizens to exercise caution on social media and promptly report any suspicious activities. The Belagavi police assured the public that the investigation is ongoing and that steps are being taken to curb cybercrimes.
