12 Kolkata: A city-based businessman, Pawan Pan, was arrested for allegedly impersonating a Supreme Court judge and attempting to influence a senior official of a nationalised mining company to secure a work tender over phone. According to police, Pan called the official, falsely identifying himself as the SC judge. The police said the man asked the official to ensure "a businessman named Pawan Pan" received the contract awarded for a mining project in East Burdwan.
The official reported the matter to a senior IAS officer, who grew suspicious and informed the judge about it. Later, the high court registrar filed a formal complaint at Hare Street police station. The anti-rowdy squad (ARS) of Kolkata Police began a probe and arrested Pan on Sunday. He was booked under BNS sections related to impersonation, extortion and fraud.
He was presented before Bankshall Court and sent to cop custody till Apr 2. Cops said Pan made multiple calls, trying to manipulate officials by misusing the judge's name. The authorities are now probing whether he was involved in similar frauds in the past.