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Rajesh Rastogi said it was his dream to be an IPS officer and when he failed the exam, he made up a fake life

He said he was a RAW agent. That he was a pass-out of the 1990 batch of the IPS's Assam Cadre and had served as a secret agent in New York for 14 years.



But Rajesh Rastogi (39) didn't realise that if something is too good to be true, it probably is. His lies were exposed on February 13 by the Kalamboli police.
 
Rastogi's very intricate web of lies started 14 months ago when he befriended a 40-year-old woman from Navi Mumbai through the Internet. His "I am a RAW agent" probably did her in.
 
Earlier this month, Rastogi came to Mumbai and his Internet pal, Shakeela Lakhdawala (name changed), invited him home to meet her son and husband.
 
Soon, Shakeela asked Rastogi if he could assist in getting her son a police verification certificate, as he wanted an overseas placement.
 
Character certificate

On the evening of February 13, a cocky Rastogi drove Shakeela and her son to Kalamboli police station.
 
Rastogi, wearing a police uniform, introduced himself as an IPS officer, presently posted as special DIG of RAW in New Delhi.

He informed Senior Inspector S K Dubal about the purpose of his visit and stated that he was in Mumbai for a special assignment. He even mentioned his 'stint' in New York.
 
However, Dubal was surprised to spot a senior RAW officer in uniform, which never happens. Also, upon inquiring Rastogi informed that his office was in Anti-Corruption Bureau building at Worli.
 
But Dubal learnt through his staff that there was no RAW office in the ACB building. Rastogi was even hesitant to share his office's number or disclose his superior officer's name.

This was sufficient for the police to expose Rastogi and he was finally arrested. He is presently at Taloja Central jail.

Who is Rastogi?

Rastogi, a Bachelor in Engineering (Civil), informed investigating officer API Manish Shirdankar that it was his childhood dream to be an IPS officer and had appeared in the Union Public Service Commission examinations, but failed all three times. Rastogi is from a well-to-do family in Delhi.

He was staying in a rented apartment in Thane for the last year, as he was hunting for a job.

Police have found that the uniform that Rastogi wore was his civil defence course uniform and he procured the badges for Rs 100 from Delhi. The badges don't match the uniform of any senior ranking officer in the police force.