Khagaria (Bihar), August 10, 2026: In a dramatic operation that has gripped national attention, Bihar Police arrested a man who had built an elaborate façade as a senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer and claimed to be an undercover agent working directly under National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. The accused, identified as Manish Kumar Gupta (also known as Manish Gupta or Chikku), son of Parmeshwar Gupta, was taken into custody from his luxury residence in Jamalpur Bazar under the Gogri police station limits of Khagaria district on the night of August 9, 2026.
The joint raid by Khagaria Police, the District Investigation Unit (DIU), and the local Gogri team lasted nearly eight hours. It was conducted under the direction of Khagaria Superintendent of Police (SP) Bhanu Pratap Singh and led on the ground by Gogri Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO)/Deputy Superintendent of Police Chandan Kumar (also referred to as Chandan Thakur in some reports), along with Station House Officer Arvind Kumar and other officers.
The Impersonation and Modus Operandi
According to police, Gupta had been operating for a considerable period across parts of Bihar by posing as a high-ranking government official. He allegedly used this false identity to intimidate people, create an atmosphere of fear, and commit financial fraud and extortion. Private luxury vehicles belonging to him carried unauthorised signboards reading “Government of India,” “Bharat Sarkar,” or “IAS,” which he used to project official authority.
During questioning, Gupta produced an identity card displayed on his mobile phone identifying him as “Manish Kumar, Central Vigilance Commission” and claimed he was an undercover agent for NSA Ajit Doval. He also showed what purported to be an IAS identity card. Preliminary verification by the police established that both claims were fake. No official records linked him to the Central Vigilance Commission, the National Security Council Secretariat, or any legitimate intelligence or administrative role under the NSA.
Police sources indicate that Gupta would convince people he could influence administrative work or get official tasks done. He allegedly collected money from victims on this pretext, sometimes paid a portion to lower-level staff to complete the work, and retained the bulk for himself. The scale of these activities allowed him to amass assets estimated by investigators at over ₹100 crore.
Luxury Lifestyle and Seized Items
The raid on Gupta’s bungalow revealed a lifestyle far removed from ordinary means. The residence featured a swimming pool, a private theatre, and an extensive surveillance network with more than 25 CCTV cameras (some reports note a DVR connected to at least 11 cameras). Authorities recovered a striking array of high-value items:
- A Tesla car equipped with Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology — described by police as a rarity in India — fitted with a “Government of India” board.
- A Tata Safari SUV, also bearing unauthorised government-style markings.
- Approximately 31 litres of imported foreign liquor spanning 29 brands, including Hibiki Suntory Whisky, Talisker Dark Storm, Glenfiddich single malt, Indri, and others. Nine litres of beer were also recovered. (Bihar remains under prohibition, making the liquor seizure particularly significant.)
- Six Apple mobile phones (reports vary slightly between five and six), two Apple laptops, and a 4TB hard disk.
- 20 to 23 credit cards of different banks, eight debit cards, and four cheque books/passbooks linked to multiple banks.
- Two horns of a barasingha (swamp deer), possession of which violates the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
- Other digital and documentary material, including a Digital Video Recorder linked to the CCTV network.
SP Bhanu Pratap Singh told reporters that the Tesla with FSD capability stood out as an unusual recovery. He confirmed that the animal horns had triggered a separate case under the wildlife law.
Legal Action and Ongoing Probe
An FIR has been registered against Gupta at Gogri Police Station under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including 212, 213, 318(2), 340(2), 336(3), and 319(2). Separate cases have been filed under Sections 39 and 49 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, and Section 30(a) of the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act, 2016.
Given the magnitude of the alleged financial fraud and the sensitive nature of the claims involving national security institutions, police have sought the involvement of the Economic Offences Unit (EOU) of the Bihar Police based in Patna. Investigators are examining seized phones, financial records, CCTV footage, and property documents. SP Singh noted that Gupta may hold assets not only in Bihar but also in other states and possibly abroad. The probe aims to identify victims, trace the sources of wealth, uncover any accomplices, and determine the full extent of the operations.
“Police received a tip-off that Manish Gupta was defrauding people and creating an atmosphere of fear and intimidation by displaying a ‘Government of India’ signboard on his private vehicle and posing as an IAS officer,” SP Singh stated. “During questioning, he identified himself as Manish Kumar, son of Parmeshwar Gupta, displayed a Central Vigilance Commission ID on his phone, and claimed to be an undercover agent for NSA Ajit Doval. Verification revealed these claims to be prima facie fake. He has been formally arrested, and further legal action is underway. We will take the help of the Economic Offences Unit to evaluate his total assets because it is not only a matter of financial fraud. Whatever assets he has generated must have been obtained through threats, fraud, or corruption.”
Wider Implications
The case has drawn attention for the audacity of the impersonation, particularly the invocation of the National Security Advisor’s name — one of the most sensitive and high-profile positions in the Indian security establishment. It also highlights challenges of identity fraud, the misuse of official symbols, and the enforcement of prohibition laws in Bihar. The recovery of wildlife trophies adds another layer of criminality under environmental protection statutes.
As of August 10, 2026, Manish Kumar Gupta remains in custody. A detailed inventory of seized items is being prepared, and forensic examination of digital devices is expected to yield further leads. The Economic Offences Unit’s involvement signals that the investigation into the financial trail and possible multi-state or international dimensions of the alleged empire will continue intensively in the coming days.
The arrest underscores how carefully constructed false identities, combined with visible symbols of authority such as government boards on vehicles, can be used to exploit public trust and intimidate ordinary citizens — until a tip-off and determined police action bring the façade down.
