A 24-year-old woman, Shivani Chauhan, was caught impersonating an Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) at TT Nagar police station in Bhopal. The incident took place on Friday evening and caused a stir among the officers present.
How It Happened
Shivani, dressed in a complete police uniform, entered the TT Nagar police station confidently. She introduced herself as an ASP from the 2018 batch, even though this batch has not yet been promoted. Her authoritative demeanor and polished uniform led the police station staff, including the ACP (Assistant Commissioner of Police), to salute her.
The station in-charge, Sunil Bhadauria, grew suspicious and started questioning her about the police force and procedures. When she struggled to answer correctly, she became visibly nervous. Upon further interrogation, Shivani admitted to faking her identity and confessed that she had created the uniform by watching YouTube tutorials.
Her Backstory and Motivation
Shivani told the police that her mother is critically ill, and she wanted to make her happy. To achieve this, she fabricated a story about being selected as a police officer and even wore a uniform to convince her family.
On Friday, Shivani arrived in Bhopal with her cousin brother and sister-in-law. She told them she was working as an officer at TT Nagar police station and led them to the station to prove her story. However, her act soon fell apart.
How She Made the Uniform
Shivani revealed that she had purchased the uniform, belt, and shoes from a shop near the police canteen in Indore. She also had a badge custom-made to resemble that of an ASP. To ensure accuracy, she studied details such as Ashoka symbols and stars on YouTube before getting the uniform tailored.
Legal Action and Release
The police registered a case against Shivani for impersonation. She was taken into custody, and after formalities, she was released on bail the same night. The authorities are continuing their investigation into her statements and actions.
This incident highlights how detailed planning and modern resources, such as online tutorials, can be misused for impersonation. At the same time, it underscores the need for vigilance in verifying identities, even within official settings.
