Who is Rohan Parekh? Diamond merchant’s son at centre of Mumbai PMO impersonation case | India News - Hindustan Times

**Mumbai, September 9 2026** – Police in Maharashtra arrested a 31‑year‑old man identified as Rohan Parekh, the son of prominent diamond‑trading magnate Sushil Parekh, after he was found at a security‑sensitive zone near the Bharat Karnataka Convention Centre (BKC) with a falsified identification badge that claimed he was a “PMO Official.” The badge, which bore the official seal of the Prime Minister’s Office and listed a fabricated name and designation, allowed Parekh to move freely within the perimeter of the venue where Prime Minister Narendra Modi was scheduled to address a large public gathering. When confronted by a team of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) officers, Parekh brandished an assault rifle and claimed to be a bodyguard assigned by the PMO, prompting a brief but tense standoff before he was taken into custody.

In a statement to the media, Parekh alleged that he had been duped by an intermediary who promised him a lucrative role as a personal security officer for the prime minister’s event. According to the suspect, he paid a sum of ₹2.5 million to a “security consultant” based in London, who provided the counterfeit badge and forged documents. Investigators, however, have found no record of any official appointment, and the police have identified the “consultant” as a known fraudster who has previously operated across Europe and India. Parekh’s background, as detailed by the *Indian Express*, shows he has lived in London for several years, holds a degree in business administration, and has no prior experience in security or law‑enforcement work. His father, Sushil Parekh, a well‑known figure in the diamond trade, has publicly disavowed his son’s actions, stating that the family was unaware of any such arrangement and is cooperating fully with the investigation.

The Maharashtra Anti‑Terrorism Squad (ATS) has opened a criminal case under sections of the Indian Penal Code dealing with forgery, impersonation of a public servant, and possession of an illegal firearm. In addition, the incident has revived concerns about lapses in security protocols at high‑profile events, especially after a similar episode in 2023 when an army veteran used a tampered National Security Guard (NSG) card to gain proximity to the prime minister. Senior officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs have announced a review of credential‑verification mechanisms for all event‑related personnel, and the PMO has reiterated that no individual without a formal, vetted clearance is authorized to act on its behalf.