Episode 3: The Groom with the Badge

Vivek Krishnan
Jun 13
3 min read

(Based on the real 2019 Hyderabad “Fake IAS” marriage scam)

– When Authority Becomes the Mask of Deception –

He arrived in an SUV with a red beacon on top.

He carried himself like someone used to deference — fluent English, structured speech, pressed whites, and a government-issued ID card that had the unmistakable seal of Delhi.

He said he was an IAS officer, posted in the Finance Ministry, and had just returned from a UN delegation trip. He referenced the Prime Minister’s Office with ease, dropped names of bureaucrats, and casually quoted government acts as though they were bedtime stories.

Families across Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and even Tamil Nadu lined up to welcome him as a groom. After all, an IAS officer in the family? That’s not a match — that’s a dream.

And so began the strange and unsettling tale of K. Ramesh (alias) — a man who used nothing but a fake badge, a gift for language, and a suit stitched with authority to live a life of deception that spanned multiple marriages, dowries, and real estate cons.

🧠 The Power of Authority

Ramesh didn’t shout. He didn’t beg. He spoke with calm certainty, cited central policies, and used bureaucratic keywords like “Niti Aayog directive,” “DoPT empanelment,” and “service allotment.”He handed over photocopies of his "transfer orders." He even had a fake service email ending with “@gov.in.”

In one case, he convinced a family to hand over ₹10 lakhs as “pre-marriage confidentiality deposit,” claiming that the bureaucratic code of conduct restricted him from publicizing the marriage. Another family bought him a Skoda Rapid as a wedding gift — he never returned.

It took three wives, two FIRs, and a police task force to finally unmask him in 2019 — when a real IAS officer recognized that his batch number didn’t exist.

🎭 Truth Bias in a Nehru Jacket

Why did this work? Why didn’t families cross-verify?

Because authority bias fuels truth bias.When someone looks the part, speaks the part, and has the paperwork to back it — our instinct is to believe. Especially in India, where bureaucracy still commands social reverence.

He quoted laws → He must know the system
He spoke fluent English → He must be educated
He used big words and official seals → Who questions such a man?
He was a "government servant" → He can’t be a thief

And let’s be honest — many families saw status, not substance.“IAS son-in-law” was not just a marriage alliance. It was a badge of social ascent.

🧩 Framework Breakdown:

Type of Truth Bias: Authority Bias → Truth Bias
Trigger: Formal speech, visual symbols of power, hierarchical perception
Cultural Factor: Deep respect for government posts, equating position with morality

💔 The Fallout

When the truth unraveled, so did reputations.Families were humiliated. Daughters had to endure court proceedings and media glare.Dowries weren’t just stolen — dignity was.

And yet, Ramesh wasn’t unique. In the years since, similar cases have emerged:

Fake IFS officers proposing marriage via matrimonial sites
Conmen posing as IPS probationers for dowry fraud
Retired clerks impersonating active district collectors

Because in India, authority still blinds scrutiny. And when the badge is fake, the trust it commands is tragically real.

🔍 From Emus to IAS — Same Bias, Different Costume

In Episode 2, we saw people fall for trust dressed in emotion. In Episode 3, we see people fall for trust dressed in rank, bureaucracy, and elite polish.

But the deception? It’s the same.

🎯 Closing Note – The Authority Trap

He didn’t wield a weapon. He didn’t climb walls or hack into systems. All he carried was confidence, costume, and a cleverly printed card — and it was enough to walk into families, hearts, and bank accounts. That’s the dangerous power of truth bias when it wears the mask of authority.

In a country where badges are rarely questioned and English is mistaken for expertise, belief often precedes logic. And when power is faked — the fall is always real.

In the next episode, we shift from wedding halls to vaccination camps — to uncover how institutional trust was exploited during India’s most vulnerable hour: the pandemic.

Because sometimes, even doctors wear lies.