In a dramatic bust, the Lashkar police arrested Minaj Murtaza Shaikh (40) and her daughter Riba Murtaza Shaikh (19) for impersonating Indian Police Service (IPS) officers to defraud footwear store owners in Pune.
The duo, residents of Burj Al Marjana Society, Kondhwa, allegedly conned shopkeepers by flaunting counterfeit IPS ID cards and escaping with expensive merchandise worth thousands of rupees.
The case came to light when Adam Ikrar Shaikh, owner of Kaleez Footwear on MG Road, Camp, filed a complaint. On September 13, 2025, Minaj and Riba entered the store claiming to belong to a reputed family. Minaj displayed a fake IPS ID and said she needed footwear for a family wedding. They selected items worth Rs 17,000 but when it was time to pay, Minaj sent the shop assistant to the Police Commissioner’s Office, saying she had official work. They then left with the goods without paying.
An FIR was registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Led by PSI Swati Bharad and supported by constables Lokesh Kadam and Amol Kodilkar, police used CCTV footage and surveillance to track and arrest Minaj on October 1 and Riba on October 2.
The women confessed to the crimes during interrogation. Police recovered stolen footwear and imitation jewelry worth Rs 45,000, including items from Kaleez Footwear. Further investigation revealed they had defrauded another store, Muchmore Footwear, in the Camp area using the same trick.
Both are repeat offenders with multiple previous cheating cases registered at Kondhwa police station in 2018, 2020, and 2023. They face charges including cheating, impersonation of public servants, and acting with common intention.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Sangita Alphonso warned, “The duo may be involved in similar frauds across Pune, impersonating officials to dupe shopkeepers. We urge citizens and traders to stay vigilant.”
Victims of their scam are urged to contact Lashkar police station immediately.
