Mumbai mall case: Accused used ChatGPT to make fake PMO ID to boost self-esteem, say police

One of the two men arrested for allegedly attempting to enter a shopping mall in Mumbai while carrying a firearm and a fake identity card linked to the Prime Ministers Office PMO allegedly fabricated the document using ChatGPT to enhance his social standing and selfesteem police told a court on FridayThe two accused identified as Rohan Parikh 24 and Dilip Kunde 49 were produced before Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate D S Khedekar at the Esplanade court after the completion of their police custody The court remanded both accused to 14 days of judicial custodyPolice seek further custody for technical investigationThe police had sought an extension of the duos custody citing the need to complete the technical examination of electronic devices seized during the investigation and to trace another accused who remains wanted in the caseDuring a search of Parikhs residence investigators allegedly recovered documents in English that purportedly related to the PMOParikh has confessed to fabricating the PMO ID and related documents using ChatGPT since 2025 to elevate his social standing and selfesteem within his family and society the investigators saidPolice told the court that an examination of Parikhs mobile phone data revealed a search history allegedly connected with drafting correspondence purportedly related to the PMOInvestigators sought further custody to determine whether Parikh had allegedly used the forged identity card or other documents at locations other than the mall where the incident took placePolice allege former Army man worked as bodyguardPolice also highlighted the alleged role of Kunde a former Army personnel from whom a revolver was recoveredAccording to investigators Kunde allegedly admitted that the weapon which he claimed was for personal use was being used commercially while he worked as a professional bodyguard for ParikhThe police sought to investigate the circumstances surrounding the firearm including its alleged use and the nature of the relationship between the two accusedThe investigation is also examining whether the fake PMO documents were used elsewhere and whether Parikh had represented himself as a government official on previous occasionsDefence argues further custody unnecessaryAppearing for the accused advocate Satish Maneshinde opposed the police request for further custodyThe defence argued that the accused had already admitted to preparing the documents and that no third party was involved in their fabrication Maneshinde contended that there was therefore no justification for keeping the accused in police custody for further investigation on that groundThe court considered the arguments presented by both sides before deciding on the custody requestAfter hearing the prosecution and defence the court held that the grounds cited in the remand report did not justify further police custody It consequently sent Parikh and Kunde to judicial custody for 14 daysIncident took place at Jio World PlazaThe incident occurred on September 7 at Jio World Plaza in Bandra Kurla Complex BKC a day before Prime Minister Narendra Modi was scheduled to attend an event at the adjacent Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre for the Global Fintech Fest 2026According to police Parikh was arrested after allegedly carrying a fake PMO identity card Kunde who was accompanying him was allegedly found carrying a firearmAn argument reportedly broke out between the two men and security personnel at the mall during the incident During the confrontation Parikh allegedly claimed to be an official from the PMOThe incident subsequently prompted a police investigation into the alleged forged documents and possession of the firearmPolice rule out link to Prime Ministers eventPolice later clarified that the incident at the mall had no connection with the Prime Ministers scheduled event at the nearby cultural centre the following dayInvestigators are continuing to examine the alleged use and preparation of the forged PMO documents the source and use of the firearm and whether the accused had previously used the documents or identity to gain access or influence elsewhereWith inputs from PTI