Dubai: How far would you go for money? A 20-year-old woman in the Indian capital of Delhi, decided to pose as a cop and issue fines to those violating COVID-19 rules, to make money. She pretended to be an assistant Sub-Inspector of Delhi police, and was arrested on Thursday. The news is doing rounds on social media, and users shared mixed emotions. While some were happy she stopped violators, others sympathised with her financial condition that must have pushed her to do so.
A Facebook user @Bilalsrr commented: "If she was punishing COVID-19 violators, then she did a good job. But get the money back."
Talking to media while confirming the incident, police said that the woman identified as Tamanna Jahan, a resident of Nangloi community in outer Delhi, “wore a police uniform and issued fake challans to those who were not wearing masks and violating social distancing rules.” Reportedly, on Wednesday, when a senior police officer, Sumer Singh, was patrolling the area, he noticed a woman in Tilak Nagar halting people for not wearing masks and issuing challans.
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Police added: "He became sceptical and asked his colleague to investigate the incident. He went up to her without wearing a mask, and she asked him to pay fine for violating COVID-19 precautions.
He asked her where she was posted, and for that, the woman told him she was posted at Tilak Nagar police station. Later he asked her for her identify card, she panicked and could not produce any document."
Another Facebook user@AlexanderJoseph posted: "Poverty! But she didn't steal. She must be pardoned.”
According to the media sources, the report was then passed on to Delhi state police officials who then reached the spot, and arrested the woman. During the investigation, the woman told the police that due to her poor financial situation, she pretended as a police officer and issued fake challans to make money.
Apparently, she confessed the crime, and told the police that she got married recently against her parents' will, and she has no source of income. A fake challan book, Rs800 (Dh40) and police uniform was recovered from her.
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Officials said: "She was also preparing for civil services exams. She had appeared in the exam earlier but could not clear it."
A case has been registered against her under applicable sections of the Indian Penal Code.
