09 September,2026 07:57 AM IST | Mumbai | Aishwarya Iyer
Accused Rohan Parekh (in white: face covered) and second accused Dilip Kunde (behind Parekh: face covered) were produced before the court on Tuesday following their arrest. PIC/ASHISH RAJE
The Mumbai Crime Branch has arrested two persons after the duo allegedly used a suspicious government identity card and forced their way past security into the Jio World Plaza in Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC).
According to the BKC police, 24-year-old Rohan Parekh and his bodyguard Dilip Kunde were detained on Monday evening and were formally arrested on Tuesday.
Police said that on Monday evening, when the mall security staff stopped them, Parekh allegedly produced a suspicious-looking government identity card, which purportedly identified him as a "Grade-C PMO" official.
The card carried an issue date and an issuer's signature but reportedly did not mention a validity date or the issuer's designation, according to the police.
Kunde was found carrying a firearm. Police subsequently detained the duo and registered an FIR at BKC police station under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including sections relating to impersonation of a public servant and unlawful entry while carrying a weapon. The firearm recovered from Kunde has been found to be licensed, said police.
Following their arrest, Parekh and Kunde were produced before Qilla Court on Tuesday, which remanded Parekh to police custody until September 11. The Crime Branch has taken over the investigation and is examining CCTV footage, the suspects' mobile phones, identity documents, and other belongings.
Parekh's lawyer claimed that his client may himself have been deceived into believing that he had been offered a legitimate position linked to the PMO. According to his lawyer, Parekh had received an official-looking offer letter, an identity card, and a letter purportedly signed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
His lawyer further argued that Parekh may have been the victim of a larger deception rather than knowingly impersonating a government official. The lawyer stated that Parekh had visited the premises on Monday for personal work, adding that he had maintained a personal bodyguard since 2024.
