What’s in a name? Journalist mistaken for suspect in criminal case, police tender apology
A three-member team of Delhi police officials was on the lookout for a man named Rahul, who has been accused of duping people on the pretext of giving them a job as an accountant.
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The police, the goof-up happened on Thursday after they received information about a man named Rahul, accused of duping people on the pretext of giving them a job as an accountant. (File Photo)While searching for a man accused of duping people with fake job offers, three Delhi Police officers ended up questioning a journalist — all because he shared the suspect’s name and a strikingly similar face.
Police said they have apologised to the journalist, Rahul Saha, and his wife, Ayantika Pal. They also rejected claims of ‘daylight kidnapping’ made by Pal, who is also a journalist, on her X handle.
According to police, the mix-up occurred on Thursday after they received information about a man named Rahul, who is accused of duping people under the pretext of offering them a job as an accountant. A team from the Cyber Cell wing in Shahdara district was put on the case.
“The team, comprising a sub-inspector, a head constable, and a constable, went to Bahadurgarh in search of the accused, Rahul. His mobile phone location showed he was in Noida Sector 38. The team headed there and reached a petrol pump; at the spot, they saw a person who looked like the accused in a car with his wife. The person’s name was also Rahul,” a senior police officer said. The police team then asked the complainant for an ID, after which an argument ensued between the couple and officers — a purported video of this was shared on social media.
In the video, the SI is seen asking the couple to show their IDs. The couple then steps out of the car. One of the officers holds Rahul by hand and leads him towards a white SUV. An officer then asks whether his name is Rahul and if he is from Haryana. Ayantika replies that he is from West Bengal, his name is Rahul Saha, and he works in a media firm.
Posting the video on her X handle, Ayantika alleged harassment and kidnapping by the police. A senior officer said that no police control room (PCR) call was made by the couple during the incident, and no complaint has been filed.
DCP (Shahdara) Prashant Gautam said, “The team was tracking a job fraud accused named Rahul, whose location was found to be in Noida Sector 38. When the police reached the spot and questioned the person near the petrol pump, he was found to be Rahul Saha, a Noida-based journalist.”
“An apology has been tendered by the three officers to the couple,” another senior officer said.
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