Report: Manmeen Walia, New Delhi
The North Delhi Police in a shocking case of fraud and impersonation, have arrested a man who posed as an official of the Hon’ble Chief Minister’s Office, Delhi, and used fake letterheads to cheat poor and helpless patients seeking treatment in private hospitals.
The accused, identified as Sonu (27), a resident of Tagore Garden, Delhi, originally from Jhajjar, Haryana, was found preparing and distributing forged recommendation letters under the name of the CM Office. These letters falsely claimed to authorize free treatment for patients under the EWS (Economically Weaker Section) category in private hospitals.
The case came to notice when Sh. S.C. Vashishtha, OSD to CM/Delhi, filed a complaint at Police Station Civil Lines. The management of Maharaja Agrasen Hospital, Delhi, had contacted the CM Office to verify a suspicious letter recommending free treatment for a patient named Shyam Shankar. The letter bore several discrepancies such as spelling errors, mismatched font, and misalignment — prompting the hospital to raise doubts.
The hospital also reported receiving a phone call from a man introducing himself as Balbir Singh Rathee, claiming to be an official from the CM Office, who instructed them to proceed with the treatment. Verification by the CM Office confirmed the letter and the caller were fake, leading to the registration of FIR No. 472/2025 under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Taking the case seriously, a dedicated team was formed under the supervision of Insp. Hanumant Singh, SHO/Civil Lines, and the leadership of Sh. Vikas Meena, ACP Civil Lines. The team included Insp. Jitender Rana, SI Nitin, and Ct. Vinay Sehrawat.
During the probe, it was revealed that the patient’s wife had obtained the letter from a man named Sonu. Using technical surveillance and local intelligence, the police traced the suspect’s mobile numbers to the Karol Bagh area, where he was working as a contractual Mali (gardener) in the MCD Office, Karol Bagh Zone.
On conducting a raid, Sonu escaped, leaving behind his bag and motorcycle. Inside the bag, police recovered a fake MCD ID card, multiple forged CM Office letters, and other incriminating documents.
Following a continued manhunt, Sonu was apprehended from A-Block, Double Storey, Tagore Garden, on 30 October 2025.
During interrogation, Sonu confessed that he had found an original CM Office letter in the MCD Dak (mail) and used it to create fake copies for monetary gain. He admitted to charging ₹5,000 from each patient in exchange for a fake recommendation letter for free hospital treatment.
Sonu, aged 27, originally from Badli village, Jhajjar, Haryana, left school after his father’s death in 1999. He worked as a Mali/Chowkidar in Nagar Palika, Bahadurgarh, before shifting to Delhi in 2023. Currently, he was working as a contractual Mali in the MCD Office, Karol Bagh Zone. He is married and has one son. He also revealed that he used Google Translate to insert patient details in the forged letters and called hospitals impersonating a CM Office official named Balbir Singh Rathee to make his scam more convincing. To avoid detection, he used a motorcycle with a fake number plate.
Recovered Items
Police recovered the following items from the accused:
1. One mobile phone with two SIM cards used for impersonation.
2. One original CM Office letter signed by Anil Agrawal, Officer-Incharge.
3. One office bag containing several forged CM Office letters.
4. One fake MCD ID card.
5. One fake Haryana Government ID card.
6. One motorcycle with a fake registration plate.
Sections under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) have been invoked against him for cheating, forgery, and impersonation. Further investigation is underway to identify others who might have been cheated or involved in the racket.
DCP Raja Banthia, has once again proven his exceptional leadership and commitment to upholding law and order in the national capital. Under his dynamic supervision, the North District Police successfully exposed and arrested an imposter who was cheating poor and helpless patients by misusing the Chief Minister’s Office letterhead for personal gain.
His sharp guidance, strategic planning, and constant monitoring ensured that the accused was swiftly identified and apprehended. DCP Raja Banthia’s strong sense of responsibility and quick decision-making reflect his deep dedication to public service and justice.
