Man arrested for impersonating IAF officer at Varanasi air show

Police arrested Arpit Chaturvedi for impersonating a military officer during the Indian Air Force's air show at Namo Ghat in Varanasi on 24 October 2026. Security personnel became suspicious of his behavior near the helipad of the restricted zone and detained him for questioning. When asked to verify his credentials, Chaturvedi initially claimed to be either an Army captain or Group Captain in the Indian Air Force, but checks of military records and the address he provided found no evidence of his service. Police identified him as a resident of Varanasi's Nadesar area, whose father operates a pathology centre in the city. According to police accounts, Chaturvedi had befriended a genuine military officer posted in the Cantonment area and used this association to attempt access to the restricted helipad zone. Officers noted that his appearance and demeanor did not match that of a serving officer. Intelligence Bureau (IB), Local Intelligence Unit (LIU), and Air Force personnel questioned him for several hours at a senior police officer's office. Adampur police station registered a named FIR (Case No. 0189/2026) against him under Sections 204 and 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. The incident occurred during heightened security arrangements for the three-day air show, which was part of the Indian Air Force's 94th Air Force Day celebrations and themed "Wings over Ganga." Further investigation into how he accessed the restricted area is underway.