Fake PMO ID card and a firearm surface at Mumbai's Global Fintech Fest venue just before PM Modi's event Security agencies detained two men at the venue of Mumbai's Global Fintech Fest, one carrying a fake PMO identity card and the other found with a firearm, just ahead of PM Modi's inauguration of the event. Hours before Prime Minister Narendra Modi was set to inaugurate the Global Fintech Fest in Mumbai, security teams at the venue detained two men, one of whom had presented himself as an official from the Prime Minister's Office before his claim fell apart under scrutiny. A fake PMO card raises the alarm According to sources, the man taken into custody has been identified as 24-year-old Rohan Parekh. During screening, an identity card bearing the PMO's name was found on him, but when security personnel examined it closely, the card turned out to be fake. Carrying a forged credential into an event with such tight security is itself a serious red flag, since anyone attending a programme involving the Prime Minister is typically screened, along with their documents, through multiple layers of checks. A firearm with his bodyguard deepens the worry The matter did not end there. A search of Parekh's companion, described as his bodyguard, turned up a firearm. Finding a weapon inside a high-security zone just ahead of the Prime Minister's event put security agencies on high alert. Teams stationed at the venue immediately stepped up scrutiny of both men's movements and paperwork, and to rule out any risk, both were taken into custody. Crime Branch takes over the probe The Mumbai Crime Branch is now investigating the entire episode. Police are trying to establish exactly how the young man managed to get so close to the venue while carrying a counterfeit PMO identity card, and what stages of security clearance he actually passed through. Investigators are also examining under what licence the firearm recovered from his companion was held, and the purpose for which it was being carried. Agencies are further trying to determine what the two men's actual intention was in reaching the venue, and whether they had attempted to gain any special access. A clearer picture of the episode and each man's role is expected to emerge only once the investigation is complete. The fintech fest goes on regardless The episode surfaced just as the seventh edition of the Global Fintech Fest 2026 was about to get underway in Mumbai, running from September 8 to 11, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself set to inaugurate it. The case involving a forged identity document and a firearm has left behind pointed questions about the event's security arrangements. For now, both the Mumbai Police and the Crime Branch continue their investigation, and officials are yet to issue a detailed statement on the matter. What this means for you The most direct effect of a security lapse like this on ordinary people is tighter entry and screening procedures at high-profile events going forward. • Across India: Screening of identity documents and invitees at events involving the Prime Minister or other senior leaders is likely to get stricter. This could mean longer checks for ordinary citizens, staff and media personnel who carry passes into such programmes. • In Mumbai: The venue hosting the Global Fintech Fest will see thousands of delegates, bankers and startup employees through September 8 to 11. With tighter security checks likely for the remaining days, attendees may face longer waits before being allowed into the venue. • Document verification: The discovery of a fake PMO card underlines how critical verification of government identity cards is. Members of the public should alert police promptly if they notice any misuse of official documents. • Scrutiny of firearm licences: The probe into the bodyguard's weapon will also test how thoroughly licences held by private security personnel are checked. Anyone carrying a licensed firearm near a high-security zone will need to be mindful of the rules involved. Why this happened It is not yet fully clear how Rohan Parekh reached the venue with a fake PMO identity card, or exactly why his companion was carrying a firearm, since the Mumbai Crime Branch investigation is still ongoing. • Forged document detected: Security personnel found the PMO card suspicious during screening itself, after which it was declared fake. How the card was made and used will only emerge through the investigation. • Presence of a firearm: The licence status of the weapon found with the bodyguard, and the reason it was being carried, have not yet been confirmed. Police are examining both the licence and the intent. • Unclear intent: What the two men actually intended by reaching the venue, and whether they were attempting to gain any special access, remains under investigation. • Caught during screening: It was the layered checks under the high-security protocol that led to both suspects being caught, averting any potential risk in time. Questions & Answers 1. Who is the man who was detained? He has been identified as 24-year-old Rohan Parekh. 2. What was found on Rohan Parekh? A fake identity card bearing the PMO's name was found on him. 3. What was found on the second person? A firearm was recovered from Parekh's companion, described as his bodyguard. 4. Where did this happen? It happened at the venue of the Global Fintech Fest in Mumbai, where PM Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate the event. 5. Who is investigating the case? The Mumbai Crime Branch is investigating the matter. 6. How long does the Global Fintech Fest run? Its seventh edition is being held in Mumbai from September 8 to 11. https://trendkia.com/en/maharashtra/mumbai-fintech-fest-sthala-para-pharji-pmo-pahachana-patra-lekara-ghusa-yuvaka-sathi-ke-pasa-mili-bnduka-29535 TrendKia — Har trend, sabse pehle.