CBI books Delhi man for posing as PMO official

New Delhi, Oct 6 (PTI) The CBI has registered an FIR against a Delhi resident for allegedly seeking favours from various institutions, including the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam, by posing as an official of the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), officials said on Monday.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) registered the FIR based on a complaint by an assistant director in the PMO which cited three instances of the accused seeking favours by posing as an official from the country's top executive office.

Acting on the complaint, the CBI booked P Rama Rao, a resident of Rajinder Nagar, on charges of cheating, cheating by personation and forgery, etc., under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and under relevant provisions of the Information Technology Act.

According to the complaint, Rao, posing as a joint secretary in the PMO, approached the pro vice chancellor of Symbiosis International University, Pune, over the phone regarding someone's admission in their MBA programme.

Posing as a deputy secretary in the PMO, Rao wrote to the executive officer of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam in Andhra Pradesh on the purported official letter head on May 1, asking for arrangements to be made for 'Suprabhatam Darshan' of Lord Sri Venkateswara Swamy on May 10, along with accommodation for 10 people in three AC double bed rooms in Tirumala, the FIR said.

It said the PMO confirmed to the CBI that no official named P Rama Rao is working in its office.

In another instance, C Sridhar, posing as the joint secretary to the PM, wrote to the Mysuru tehsildar seeking records of Sahara Prime City Limited land parcel of 1,023 acres on the Uttanahalli village road, purportedly valued at over Rs 1,500 crore and attached by the Enforcement Directorate.

"The mobile no. of C Sridhar mentioned in the said letter -- +91973015400 -- is identical to the no. used in the case referred vide the PMO letter dated 20.08.2025 (pertaining to calls made to Pro VC, Symbiosis International University) above.

"Prima facie this appears to be a case of continued impersonation as an official of the Prime Minister's Office and misuse of the name of the PMО," the complaint stated. PTI ABS DIV