Fake ADM arrested in Delhi for duping victims of ₹60 lakh with job and land scam

Delhi Police have arrested a 43-year-old man for allegedly impersonating an Additional District Magistrate (ADM) and cheating several people out of nearly ₹60 lakh by promising government jobs and land allotments.

The accused, identified as Pawan Kumar Pandey alias Varun Kumar Pandey, a resident of Gandhi Vihar in Delhi, was arrested by a team from PP Sidhipura under DBG Road Police Station. According to police, he falsely projected himself as a senior government officer with influential connections and used this image to gain the trust of victims.

The case came to light after a complaint was filed in March 2026. Investigators found that the accused had introduced himself as an ADM from Uttar Pradesh and offered government jobs and plots in Noida under purported official schemes in exchange for money.

Police said the fraud involved around ₹60 lakh. During the investigation, officers recovered forged identity cards, visiting cards and fake official documents. Digital evidence, including WhatsApp chats, audio recordings, screenshots and e-Sakshya videos, helped establish the accused's role in the scam.

Authorities also traced financial transactions through bank accounts and UPI payments and identified assets allegedly purchased using proceeds of the crime, including a car and a scooter. Verification revealed that the accused had been using the identity of a real PCS officer and had relied on publicly available information and photographs to make his claims appear genuine.

During questioning, the accused allegedly admitted to impersonating an ADM for years and using forged documents to deceive victims. Police are now investigating the involvement of possible associates and searching for additional victims who may have been targeted in the fraud.