The Hindu : New Delhi News : Man arrested for impersonation

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, May 05, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

Man arrested for impersonation

By Anjali Dhal Samanta

NEW DELHI, MAY 4. While the ramp saw plenty of excitement during the just-ended Lakme India Fashion Week here, there was plenty of confusion off the ramp too. A man allegedly impersonating as a journalist from a leading national daily was arrested at the Grand Hotel on Monday after a female designer complained about his suspicious behaviour.

The 45-year-old man, Deepak Sharma, had allegedly been visiting Delhi-based designer Puja Nayyar's stall at the hotel almost every day during the fashion week. Claiming to be a freelance journalist with a national daily, Deepak would apparently display a number of articles written by him.

"He had been coming to my stall almost every day and bothering me. He would just come and sit and try to talk to me. He said he was a freelance journalist and he would show me some articles that have been appearing in the newspapers over the past week, claiming that he had written the articles. There was also some indications that he wanted money. He was a very shady guy and I was feeling uncomfortable. So I complained to the organisers. But when he showed up again yesterday, I decided to call the security,'' said Puja.

To ensure that there was no confusion, Puja also asked some journalists to identify the man. When they failed to do so, the police were called in.

Upon questioning, Deepak could not produce any documents to prove his claims following which the Vasant Kunj police arrested him on charges of impersonation. Interrogation revealed that the accused, a chartered accountant living in Mehrauli, was currently unemployed.

While the police have not come across any past records of the accused, it appears that he had also approached other designers. Though the police have received a complaint only from Puja Nayyar during the fashion week, similar complaints had also been made by other designers to the organisers. "Someone came up to me and showed me an article saying that he had written it. He asked me if I wanted a copy and when I took it, he started asking me for money. He said that he was a freelance journalist and that I should give him at least Rs. 1,000 to Rs. 2,000 for conveyance. I saw him going up to other designers as well. I had complained to the organisers,'' said designer Wendell Rodricks.

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