New Delhi: The man arrested in Mumbai with a fake Prime Minister’s Office identity card was allegedly not involved in a terror plot, but had created the false identity to impress his fiancée and her family, according to the investigation.
Rohan Parikh, 24, was arrested along with his bodyguard Dilip Kunde on Monday at a shopping mall in the Bandra Kurla Complex, close to the venue of the Prime Minister’s event at the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre.
Parikh was carrying a fake PMO identity card, while his bodyguard was allegedly carrying a firearm. The incident initially triggered serious security concerns because of its proximity to the Prime Minister’s programme.
Investigators have now found that Parikh had allegedly been attempting to create an image of himself as a powerful government official with significant influence in the central government. He had recently got engaged and reportedly wanted to convince his fiancée and her family that he had direct access to senior officials, including the PMO.
According to investigators, Parikh allegedly used artificial intelligence tools in 2025 to create a digital identity card designed to resemble an official PMO credential.
Police also suspect that he planned to use his fabricated status to gain access to the area around Jio World Plaza shortly before the Prime Minister’s visit. Investigators said Parikh had conducted reconnaissance of the location twice on his own.
His alleged plan was to enter through a VVIP access point and use the opportunity to demonstrate his supposed influence in front of his future in-laws.
Parikh was not the only person arrested in connection with the case. His bodyguard and driver have also been taken into custody for their alleged involvement. Police are searching for Prathamesh Bagul, who reportedly worked as Parikh’s office assistant.
Cases have been registered under provisions relating to fraud, forgery and violations of VVIP security protocols. The investigation is continuing to establish the full extent of the alleged deception and whether others were involved.
