The Skin Doctor
Gorakhpur : He was on a surprise inspection in Bhagalpur when the local SDM, who didn’t recognise him, politely asked about his designation. Lalit lost his temper and slapped the SDM twice, repeatedly shouting, “Humko nahi pehchante ho?” The SDM was so embarrassed he didn’t even file a complaint.
Months passed. Today, while watching the news, the SDM saw a report that Gorakhpur Police had arrested a fake IAS officer in Lucknow. He was shocked to realise the imposter was the same man who had slapped him in Bhagalpur. Only then did he report the incident.
Meet Gaurav Kumar Singh alias Lalit Kishor, a maths postgraduate from Sitamarhi, Bihar. He couldn’t crack the UPSC so found a faster route to power: if you can’t clear IAS, just be IAS. And so emerged “IAS officer Lalit Kishor, 2022 batch.”
He forged documents, fake appointment letters, and built a whole ecosystem to sustain the lie. He roamed across states in a beacon-fitted Innova, backed by a 15-member entourage including 10 hired gummen. He created fake inspections, fake tenders, fake files. Maintaining this illusion cost him around five lakh rupees a month.
With the aura set, he targeted contractors and job-seekers across UP, Bihar, Jharkhand and MP. Over forty people fell for his promises of tenders and postings. One deal alone brought in five crore rupees. Meanwhile, his personal life drifted into full drama: four girlfriends, three claiming pregnancy, all believing they were with a senior IAS officer.
He was exposed when a businessman was caught at Gorakhpur station with nearly a crore meant for him.