Gorakhpur: Fake IPS Arrested for Threatening Trader with ‘Encounter’; Linked to Gorakhpur University

Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh: In a shocking incident, a man impersonating an IPS officer was arrested in Gorakhpur for threatening a local trader and demanding ₹2 lakh, warning that he would stage an “encounter” if the money was not paid. The accused was later found to be presenting forged documents.

Incident Details
Sandeep Singh, a resident of Ward No. 17 in Pipiganj, filed a complaint with the police stating that a man, claiming to be an IPS officer, demanded ₹2 lakh and threatened to implicate him in a false case leading to an encounter. Acting swiftly, the police arrested the accused and produced him in court, from where he was sent to jail on 19th January.

University Connection and Past Records
Investigation revealed that the accused, Shani Sharma, is employed as a clerk at Gorakhpur University but is currently suspended due to an ongoing investigation. After his father’s death, he obtained the job, but on social media, he posed as an IPS officer, extorting money from several people. Police discovered that the documents he submitted for his employment and under a reserved category were all forged.

Shani Sharma has a history of fraud. The North SP, Gyanendra Kumar, confirmed that he had previously filed cases against Sharma in 2025 for similar offenses. He has also been married twice, divorcing his first wife, and has two children from the first marriage.

Current Investigation
The police have seized a police uniform from him. Further investigations are ongoing to uncover the full extent of his activities, including forgery and impersonation. Authorities are also examining the authenticity of his educational and employment records, which appear to be entirely falsified.