The 24-year-old man arrested for allegedly using a fake Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) identity card in Mumbai has told police that he created the impression that he worked for the PMO to impress his family and portray himself as someone associated with a “worthy cause”, even as investigators probe whether there was more to his actions.

Sources said police suspect the man used artificial intelligence to create the PMO identity card and are investigating the claim. Police are also looking for the third accused in the case.

Rohan Parikh allegedly told police during questioning that he had convinced his family that he was working with the PMO and wanted to present himself as someone involved in “nation building”, sources said. Police, however, are allegedly not convinced by the explanation and are examining other possible motives.

Investigators are also probing Parikh’s claim that he received an email in 2024 informing him that he had been selected to work with the PMO. “We are checking if any mails have been deleted but based on the evidence we have found so far, we have not found any such email,” a police officer said.

Parikh was arrested along with his security guard Dilip Kunde, 49, a retired Army personnel from rural Nashik, at Jio World Plaza in BKC on Monday, a day before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s programme at the adjacent Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre.

Police said Parikh, Kunde and their office employee Prathamesh Bagul, who is a wanted accused, entered the mall after Parikh allegedly showed security personnel a digital PMO identity card. The trio then purchased a perfume and wallet before leaving.

Parikh’s lawyers told the court on Tuesday that he was himself a victim of fraud and had genuinely believed for nearly two years that he was associated with the PMO.

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According to the defence, Parikh was contacted in 2024 by a man identifying himself as Tarun Gupta, who offered him an advisory role with the PMO. He allegedly received an offer letter, an identity card and a letter purportedly signed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, besides communication relating to a “Defence Acquisition Policy”.

Police said there was currently no evidence linking Parikh or his actions to the Prime Minister’s programme. Kunde was carrying a licensed revolver and six live cartridges, police said.