Astrologer-cum-priest from Sanand held for posing as a CMO official

Sanand: The Cybercrime Police arrested a 28-year-old man who works as an astrologer and priest on Monday for allegedly posing as a senior official from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO).

Responding to a complaint lodged by the GST official, the cybercrime police detained Lavkush Dwivedi, a resident of Sanand (originally hailing from Uttar Pradesh). Dwivedi was apprehended for allegedly attempting to intimidate a Goods and Services Tax (GST) official and interfering in his work by posing as an official of the CMO.

As per the FIR, Dwivedi contacted the GST official and introduced himself as a senior representative from the CMO in Gandhinagar while the official was inspecting a company in Unjha town in Mehsana. Dwivedi used a threatening manner to instruct the GST officer to halt the ongoing investigation into the company. Later, it was learned during the investigations that the scrutinised company, which was engaged in trading tobacco and betel nuts, was actually owned by Dwivedi’s uncle.

While astrology and priesthood constitute Dwivedi’s primary professions, he also provides private security services to VIPs. The police observed that he had previously misused his political connections.

A senior officer from the cybercrime police disclosed, “He has also stayed in several circuit houses in Gujarat and other states while impersonating a CMO official.” Dwivedi faces charges of impersonating a government servant, criminal intimidation under the Indian Penal Code (IPC), and violations under the Information Technology Act. DeshGujarat