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An Indian American businessman was indicted by a federal jury with charges of impersonating a United States Defence Intelligence Agency official and lying about it to an Federal Bureau of Investigation agent.
According to a media report, Raj Mukherji, 21, was charged with various counts of false personation of an officer or employee of the United States; fraud and related activity in connection with an identification document; unauthorised possession of an official badge, ID card and insignia; and making a false statement to law-enforcement officers.
He was indicted by a jury in the neigbhouring state of New Jersey.
Mukherji, a business partner of former Morris County prosecutor and one-time gubernatorial candidate Michael Murphy, was charged in November with stalking two women. He was also charged in the state indictment with witness tampering, burglary and contempt of court.
He reportedly impersonated an intelligence agent and succeeded at least once in getting a speeding ticket dismissed.
In 2002, he walked into the American Consulate in Kolkata, asking to speak to a representative of the Defence Attache Office.
He was told that the office was located in New Delhi, according to the indictment. Before leaving the office, he presented a gold badge reportedly issued by 'Defence Intelligence' and stated that the orders were to contact the Defence Attache Office in Kolkata with regard to his work assignments, the report added.