Surat: In a joint operation by Govt Railway Police (GRP) and Railway Protection Force (RPF), a 25-year-old content creator was arrested after he allegedly posed as a travelling ticket examiner (TTE) and filmed himself checking passengers’ tickets on Platform 2 of Surat railway station for a social media reel.The accused, Samiullah Shaikh (25), a resident of Mahaprabhu Nagar in Limbayat, allegedly entered railway premises without authorisation on Sunday, dressed like a railway TTE, to shoot the video. He later uploaded the clip on his Instagram account and YouTube channel, where it went viral.Railway authorities took cognisance of the incident after receiving a complaint through X (formerly Twitter) from the divisional security control room (DSCR) of Mumbai division’s control room (BCT), on Thursday.Acting on the instructions of the inspector, a team comprising assistant sub-inspector Bhanwar Singh, constable Rakesh Kumar Yadav, Government Railway Police head constable Nitin Vasava and constable Kripal Singh traced the person who had uploaded the video. The team apprehended Samiullah from the Limbayat-Udhna area of Surat and brought him to the railway police post for questioning.Samiullah allegedly admitted to making the video for entertainment and uploading it to Instagram and YouTube. The Instagram caption accompanying the reel reportedly stated that the video was intended only for entertainment and warned that impersonating railway officials or using fake railway identity cards could invite legal action, urging viewers not to imitate the act in real life. The accused was also seen exchanging money with passengers which “sent out a wrong message” to viewers of the reel.Despite the disclaimer, railway police registered a case against him for allegedly trespassing into railway premises and creating a nuisance by impersonating a TTE and checking passengers’ tickets.A case was registered under Sections 145(2)(a) and 147 of the Railways Act. Further proceedings are being undertaken by RPF in this matter. After his arrest, the accused apologised for his actions and deleted the reel from all his accounts. The accused has more than 12,000 followers on his Instagram.
