Pune Court Acquits Man Accused of Rape After Alleged RAW, CBI, ATS Impersonation

A Pune court has acquitted Narendra Chandola in a rape and impersonation case after ruling that the prosecution lacked credible evidence to support allegations he posed as a RAW, CBI and ATS officer.

Pune | November 6, 2025

A Pune Sessions Court has acquitted a man accused of rape and cheating after ruling that the prosecution failed to present consistent and dependable evidence. The accused, Narendra Prakash Chandola, originally from Greater Noida and later staying in a military school hostel in Aurangabad, had been charged with serious offences including rape, cheating, assault and criminal intimidation.

The complaint was filed in 2018 by a woman who alleged that Chandola had gained her trust by posing as a RAW agent, a CBI officer, an ATS officer and even a nuclear scientist. According to her statement, he created an elaborate picture of authority and influence, convincing her that he worked for national security agencies and held confidential responsibilities. She claimed that this false identity allowed him to manipulate her emotionally and physically.

The woman alleged that he forced her into physical relations on multiple occasions at different locations across Pune and Aurangabad, including the Rajendra Singhji Institute, a guesthouse in Mukundnagar, and a hotel in Aurangabad. She also stated that he threatened to release video footage and harm her child if she refused to comply. The complaint further claimed that she was coerced into accepting ₹5,000 as part of the threat and intimidation cycle.

During the trial, the defence argued that the allegations were baseless and unsupported by evidence. The prosecution relied heavily on the victim’s testimony but struggled to corroborate key parts of the story. The court noted that there were no reliable forensic findings, no independent witnesses, and no verified records proving that Chandola impersonated intelligence or security officials. The judge also highlighted discrepancies in the sequence of events described during the investigation.

After reviewing the evidence, Additional Sessions Judge P. R. Chaudhary stated that the prosecution failed to establish the charges beyond reasonable doubt. The court ruled that contradictions and missing links in the case weakened the prosecution’s argument to the point that conviction was impossible under criminal law standards. Chandola was therefore acquitted of all charges and released.

The case drew attention because of the unusual nature of the allegations involving impersonation of high-ranking government officers. Legal experts say impersonation cases often collapse when the prosecution cannot produce technical verification or third-party confirmation. In this instance, investigators were unable to produce documents showing Chandola had ever accessed or forged official identity credentials of any agency he allegedly claimed to represent.

The verdict has sparked mixed reactions. Supporters of the complainant argue that the acquittal highlights gaps in investigative procedures, especially in cases where victims fear reporting promptly due to intimidation. They say that the absence of strong evidence does not necessarily mean the allegations were false, but rather that the system needs more robust mechanisms to investigate such sensitive cases.

On the other hand, defence lawyers say the judgment reinforces the importance of strict evidentiary standards in criminal trials. They argue that allegations of this magnitude require strong proof and that an acquittal is the correct outcome when inconsistencies emerge.

This case adds to the ongoing debate around impersonation-based crimes and the challenges investigators face during verification. While the court has closed this chapter, the outcome is likely to be studied by legal observers and advocacy groups working on issues of consent, coercion and misuse of identity in digital and social contexts.

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