Pune, November 29, 2025: The investigation into a 45-year-old woman accused of posing as an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer in Delhi has taken a significant turn with the arrest of two key associates, including an Afghan national, officials said on Saturday. The latest arrests come nearly a week after the woman, Kalpana Trimbakrao Bhagwat, a former senior assistant at Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University (BAMU) in Maharashtra, was held for allegedly forging official documents, faking an IAS appointment letter, and staying for months at a star hotel using a tampered Aadhaar card.

The Latest Arrests

The two individuals apprehended are Mohammad Ashraf Khil, an Afghan national, and Abhishek Chaudhary, who Bhagwat had stored in her phone under the name “OSD to Home Minister.” Both were arrested during coordinated raids by a special squad of the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar police in Pune early on Saturday morning.

Following their arrest, the duo was produced before a Delhi court and placed on transit remand before being brought to Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar for custodial interrogation, senior police officials said. Investigators believe the duo could reveal crucial details regarding Bhagwat’s financial, digital, and international networks, which she allegedly used to sustain her false identity as a senior bureaucrat.

Background on Kalpana Bhagwat

Bhagwat, 45, previously served as a senior assistant at BAMU, but was dismissed prior to the incident. According to police sources, she forged multiple identity documents and fabricated an IAS appointment letter, claiming to be a high-ranking bureaucrat. Over a period of nearly six months, she stayed at a five-star hotel in Delhi, funded through her mother’s pension account and other unexplained sources, according to investigators.

Police suspect Bhagwat also targeted several real estate developers in Delhi, presenting herself as an IAS officer and lobbyist, and reportedly collected ₹32.6 lakh from multiple individuals between January 1 and November 21 this year. Investigators found two cheques worth ₹19 crore and ₹6 lakh, along with a purported endorsement letter signed by former BAMU vice-chancellor S. N. Pathan during searches.

Expanding Investigation

Following Bhagwat’s initial arrest on November 23, the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar police deployed four special teamsto Delhi, Noida, Haryana, and Rajasthan to trace her associates. Officials believe she may have operated a wider network involving foreign nationals, including sustained contact with Islamabad-based Yama Ghalif, brother of Mohammad Ashraf Khil, over the past seven years.

Police have stated that both Khil and Chaudhary are expected to provide critical information on Bhagwat’s international connections, including alleged links to Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Saudi Arabia. A special investigation has been launched to map her communications, financial transactions, and travel history, which reportedly raised “serious concerns” regarding possible foreign involvement, according to a remand report submitted to the court.

Intelligence Involvement

The Intelligence Bureau (IB) and the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) have joined the investigation. The IB is reviewing her educational records from her school in Vaijapur, as well as her employment and dismissal history at BAMU. Authorities have also written to telecom and internet service providers to obtain complete logs of international calls from her devices.

During searches of her hotel room, police reportedly recovered her mobile phone, containing 11 international contacts, saved under names like “Peshawar cantonment board,” “Afghan embassy,” and “Zardari Sir wife.” Investigators said she remained highly evasive during questioning, providing minimal cooperation.

Roles of the Associates

• Abhishek Chaudhary: Allegedly projected by Bhagwat as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to the Union Home Minister, he was tracked and arrested in Delhi. Police are examining whether he had connections with other foreign nationals and how he may have assisted Bhagwat in maintaining her false identity.
• Mohammad Ashraf Khil: An Afghan national, reportedly maintained long-term contact with Bhagwat and is expected to provide critical leads regarding her international links and financial transactions.

Police have indicated that interrogation of both associates will begin once they arrive in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar on Saturday.

Judicial Proceedings

Bhagwat remains in custody at the Kranti Chowk lock-up, where her request to meet her mother was denied by police. The Delhi court has remanded her to police custody till December 5, giving investigators time to interrogate her and her associates fully.

Authorities have not disclosed the full role of two other individuals, Chetan Bhanushali and Nikhil Bhakre, who issued cheques totaling ₹19 crore and ₹6 lakh, respectively, both of which were found during the hotel searches.

Implications

The case has raised serious questions about fraud, identity forgery, and potential links with foreign networks. Police sources say the investigation is ongoing and may uncover additional suspects who helped Bhagwat maintain her high-profile façade. Officials are treating the case with urgency due to its implications for national security, financial fraud, and administrative integrity.

As the investigation unfolds, authorities are expected to map the full scope of Bhagwat’s network, scrutinizing both her domestic and international contacts to determine the extent of her activities and possible complicity of others.

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