Fake IAF Group Captain Arpit Chaturvedi Held After Entering Varanasi Air Show Helipad
A man impersonating an Indian Air Force officer was arrested after he was found inside the restricted helipad zone at Namo Ghat in Varanasi during the IAF’s three-day air show, exposing a security lapse at one of the city’s most closely guarded venues.
The accused has been identified as Arpit Chaturvedi, a resident of the Nadesar area of Varanasi. He allegedly posed as Group Captain Arpit Chaturvedi of the Indian Air Force, but verification of military records and the address he gave showed that he is not serving in the armed forces in any rank.
Police said Chaturvedi had managed to gain access by cultivating a friendship with a real military officer posted in the Cantonment area. He is also said to have continued using the false identity while interacting with the genuine officer. When police stopped him near the helipad, he tried to assert the rank he had claimed, but officers found that neither his appearance nor his manner of speaking matched those of a serving military officer.
Namo Ghat police post in-charge Chandan Kumar, who was patrolling the area with his team as part of security arrangements ahead of Air Show-2026, received information about a suspicious person in the restricted zone. The team detained Chaturvedi, questioned him, and checked the details he had provided. On the basis of Kumar’s complaint, Adampur police station registered a case and later submitted the challan.
Station in-charge Vimal Mishra said Chaturvedi admitted during questioning that he had come to Namo Ghat to watch the air show and had used false claims to get in. Additional reports said intelligence agencies, including the Intelligence Bureau, along with Air Force personnel, were also involved in the questioning.
The Indian Air Force organised the event as part of its 94th Air Force Day celebrations, with the theme “Wings over Ganga.” The aerial displays featured multiple aircraft, and the concluding day drew an estimated large crowd. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Governor Anandiben Patel and senior military officers were among the dignitaries present.
The Namo Ghat helipad is designated a high-security zone, and the incident has raised questions about how an unauthorised person was able to enter the restricted area despite the heightened security arrangements for the event.
Police said the investigation is continuing to determine how the impersonator reached the restricted area and the full extent of his movements there. No other security breaches or injuries have been reported in connection with the air show.
