Bahraich, January 12
In a dramatic bust that underscores the vulnerabilities at India’s porous borders and the allure of cross-border vices; five young men from Lucknow were arrested yesterday for impersonating high-ranking officials while attempting to sneak into Nepal for a night of gambling. Equipped with a souped-up Toyota Innova Crysta flashing red and blue lights like a government VIP convoy, the group claimed elite statuses—including one posing as a Principal Secretary in the state secretariat—to evade scrutiny. But their ruse crumbled under questioning, leading to the seizure of cash, gadgets, and a swift handover to local police.
The incident unfolded on the evening of January 11 at the bustling Rupaidiha check-post, a key gateway along the Indo-Nepal border in Bahraich district. Recently Foreign nationals, including Chinese citizen attempting illegal entry, have also been apprehended here, raising concerns about border security.
According to Ganga Singh Udawat, Commandant of the 42nd Battalion of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) a joint team of SSB jawans and local police flagged down the suspicious vehicle during routine checks. “The Innova bearing logo of UP Government arrived blaring a siren, with red and blue lights flashing, mimicking an official escort,” Udawat recounted. “One occupant boldly identified himself as an IAS officer, while another claimed to be the son of a police inspector. Their stories didn’t add up during intensive interrogation.”
The vehicle in question, a sleek Toyota Innova Crysta, had been modified with unauthorized emergency lights and a siren—equipment typically reserved for law enforcement or high officials—to intimidate and bypass authorities. Such modifications are illegal under Indian traffic laws.
The five arrested individuals were identified as Dharmendra Singh son of Ambar Singh, Shubham Bajpai, Anmol Yadav (alias Ranjit Yadav), Sachin Singh, and Swapnil Sahay. They were handed over to Rupaideha police on Monday. Under pressure, they confessed their true intent: a cross-border jaunt to Nepalganj, a Nepali town just across the border known for its thriving casino scene. Nepalganj’s casinos draw thousands of Indian tourists annually, lured by legal gambling that’s banned in most parts of India. This “gambling tourism” has boomed, with Indians crossing over for high-stakes games
Police Circle Officer Nanpara, Pahup Singh, elaborated on the arrests: “The group admitted to installing the lights and siren to dodge police en route. We recovered 6 mobile phones, a chip device—likely for casino gaming—a power bank, and a substantial ₹2,17,480 in cash.
Adding a layer of concern, two of the accused have prior criminal records. Dharmendra Singh, who posed as the IAS Principal Secretary, faces charges at Lucknow’s PGI and Sushant Golf City police stations for gambling offenses. Anmol Yadav has a case pending at Sushant Golf City as well. “These aren’t first-timers,” noted Rupaiyadiha Police Station in-charge Ramesh Rawat.
An FIR (No. 007/2026) has been lodged at Rupaiyadiha Police Station under Section 319(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which deals with cheating by personation. After preliminary proceedings, the quintet was presented before the Bahraich district court and remanded to judicial custody.