UP Woman Arrested for Posing as IAS Officer, Marrying Man and Allegedly Extorting Husband
A woman accused of posing as an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer to deceive a man into marriage and later allegedly extorting him has been arrested by the Uttar Pradesh Police. The accused, identified as Sadhana, was apprehended from Budaun district and has been remanded to judicial custody after a court appearance. The case has drawn attention for the elaborate manner in which the alleged fraud was carried out.
According to police, the complainant, 28-year-old Abhishek Kumar from Bareilly’s Faridpur area, first came into contact with Sadhana through Facebook. During their interactions, she allegedly claimed that she had cleared the UPSC Civil Services Examination and was awaiting her posting as an IAS officer because of a pending court case. She also allegedly promised to help Abhishek secure a government job after joining the civil services, convincing his family to agree to the marriage.
Police say that after the marriage, Abhishek began to doubt her claims. On verifying the details of the purported court case, he allegedly discovered that it was, in fact, related to an earlier case against Sadhana for impersonating an IAS officer. Investigators also found social media posts, forged documents and fake appreciation certificates that were allegedly used to project her as a serving civil servant.
The complaint further alleges that Sadhana demanded ₹40 lakh from her husband and threatened to implicate him and his family in false criminal cases if they refused to pay. Police claim she also used male associates to make intimidating phone calls while posing as government officials or colleagues to increase pressure on the family.
Investigators said that after learning about the FIR lodged against her, Sadhana allegedly left the matrimonial home with jewellery and valuables before going into hiding. Acting on technical surveillance and local intelligence, the police traced her to Budaun and arrested her on July 13. During interrogation, she is alleged to have admitted to using a fake IAS identity to gain her husband’s trust and later extort money.
Sadhana has been booked under provisions relating to cheating, criminal intimidation, blackmail and forgery. Police are also examining whether she employed a similar modus operandi in other cases, as additional complaints have reportedly begun to surface following her arrest. Officials noted that she had previously been named in an extortion case in Budaun, which is still pending before a local court.
The case highlights the growing use of forged identities, fabricated government credentials and social media profiles in matrimonial frauds. Investigators have advised families to independently verify claims of government employment and official appointments through authentic records before finalising marriage proposals, particularly when such claims are central to the alliance.
