A Faridabad resident has been arrested in Ambala Cantonment for allegedly impersonating an Indian Air Force (IAF) officer and attempting to cheat Agniveer aspirants by promising to help them clear medical examinations during an ongoing Indian Army recruitment rally, police said. The accused, identified as Vishnu Kumar, a resident of Jeewan Nagar in Ballabhgarh, Faridabad, was apprehended near Raina Auditorium, close to Kharga Stadium, where the Agniveer recruitment process was underway. Police said Kumar runs a coaching institute named Soldier Academy in the Ballabhgarh area.
Military Intelligence reportedly received information about the suspected recruitment fraud on October 18. During initial contact, the suspect allegedly introduced himself as Ravi and claimed that a person he referred to as 'doctor saab' could arrange the required medical clearance. Acting on information shared by Military Intelligence, a police team from the Topkhana Police Post tracked a silver Maruti Suzuki Swift car allegedly being used by the suspect and apprehended him.
Fake IAF card, candidates' certificates and cheques recovered
During the search, police recovered a fake Indian Air Force identity card issued in the name of Iqbal Khan, which carried Kumar's photograph, and a forged Aadhaar card bearing the same name. A search of the vehicle led to the recovery of two smartphones, original and photocopied Class 10 and Class 12 educational certificates, and admit cards belonging to several Agniveer candidates from Ambala, Bhiwani, Charkhi Dadri, Delhi and Rajasthan. Police also recovered cheques amounting to approximately Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs 3 lakh, and documents belonging to more than ten candidates were found in the accused's possession.
An FIR has been registered at Ambala Cantonment Police Station under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including offences related to cheating by impersonation, forgery, fraudulent inducement and using forged documents as genuine. Ambala Cantonment Police Station in-charge Dharmbir Singh said the accused was being questioned to determine how many candidates had been approached or cheated and whether other individuals were involved in the suspected racket. The allegations are yet to be tested in court.
Recruitment into the Indian Army under the Agnipath scheme follows prescribed eligibility requirements, physical fitness standards, medical examinations and merit-based selection. No private individual, coaching institute or self-proclaimed military officer is authorised to guarantee selection or arrange medical clearance in exchange for money.
Source: SSBCrack