Rawalpindi’s Race Course Police apprehended an individual on Thursday who was impersonating a price control magistrate and extorting money from local hotels by threatening to seal their premises. The suspect, identified as Danish Raza, was caught red-handed near Range Road, Rawalpindi.
Details of the Incident
According to the First Information Report (FIR) registered under sections 419 (cheating by personation) and 171 (fraudulently wearing garb or carrying tokens used by public servants) of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), the complainant, Shamsullah, owner of Quetta Darvesh Hotel located on Range Road, stated that an unidentified individual riding a motorcycle with registration number RIN-2016 and a red official-style number plate arrived at his hotel late at night a few days ago. The individual introduced himself as a magistrate and demanded money. When the hotel management refused, the suspect threatened to seal the hotel and left.
Second Visit and Arrest
The complainant reported that the suspect returned the following night on July 6 at around 9:30pm on the same motorcycle to demand money again. Suspicious of his movements and behavior, the hotel staff alerted Junaid Ahmed, an operator for the assistant commissioner Cantt, who arrived at the scene alongside local police personnel. Upon questioning by the authorities, the suspect – identified as Danish Raza, son of Waleed Raja Shah, a resident of Railway Flat Scheme No. 7, Rawalpindi – was unable to provide any official identification, proof of employment, or satisfactory explanation for his actions.
Legal Proceedings
The police promptly took the suspect into custody and recovered the motorcycle used in the crime. Assistant Sub-Inspector Ali Shan, who is leading the investigation, confirmed that a formal case has been registered, and further legal proceedings against the impersonator are underway.
