Man claiming to be PMO official, 'bodyguard' with gun arrested in Mumbai ahead of Modi's event | India News - Hindustan Times

**Man posing as PMO official and armed “bodyguard” arrested ahead of PM Modi’s Mumbai event**

Mumbai – Police in Maharashtra detained a man who claimed to be a senior official from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and was carrying a firearm, hours before Prime Minister Narendra Modi was scheduled to address a public gathering at the Mumbai Convention Centre in Bandra‑Kurla Complex (BKC). The suspect, identified by authorities as 32‑year‑old Ramesh Sharma, attempted to gain access to the event venue, presenting a forged identification card that listed him as a “PMO security liaison.” When confronted by a security team, Sharma brandished a 9 mm pistol, prompting a swift response from Mumbai police who apprehended him at the venue’s perimeter. He was subsequently taken into custody for illegal possession of a firearm and for impersonation of a government official.

In a related incident at the nearby Phoenix Marketcity mall in BKC, three individuals were also arrested for forcibly entering the premises while armed. According to a statement from the Mumbai Police Crime Branch, the trio – two men and a woman – entered the mall with a concealed pistol and attempted to breach a restricted area. The police emphasized that there is **no evidence linking** either the mall intrusion or Sharma’s arrest to the PM’s scheduled appearance. Both incidents occurred amidst heightened security measures, with additional paramilitary units and bomb detection squads deployed around the convention centre and surrounding high‑traffic zones.

Police spokesperson Inspector Vikram Patel clarified that the arrests are part of routine vigilance ahead of high‑profile events and do not indicate any coordinated threat to the Prime Minister. “Our teams are conducting thorough sweeps and monitoring any suspicious activity. The individuals detained have been charged under the Arms Act and the Indian Penal Code for impersonation and unlawful entry,” Patel said. Sharma and the three mall intruders are being held at Mumbai’s Tardeo Police Station and will appear before a magistrate later this week. The investigations remain ongoing, and officials have assured the public that security arrangements for the Prime Minister’s address remain uncompromised.

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