In a significant crackdown on fraud, the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) apprehended a former soldier, Rahul Kumar, who allegedly impersonated an Indian Army colonel. His arrest was executed early Saturday morning at a residence in Narayan Nagar, Hema Purwa, within the jurisdiction of the Kotwali police station in Sitapur.
Kumar, originally from Kakrala village in Muzaffarnagar district, was discovered with an array of incriminating materials, including a fake army uniform, four counterfeit appointment letters, forged seals, a canteen card, an Aadhaar card, and a mobile phone. During interrogation, he admitted to having served in the Mahar Regiment before leaving the Army and transitioning to a job as a goods transport driver. Resorting to fraudulent activities, Kumar began targeting unemployed youth, promising them military positions in exchange for payment.
Officials revealed that Kumar had been operating this scam for several months, creating a façade of legitimacy by issuing fake appointment letters and documents. The STF launched its operation after receiving multiple complaints about a figure in military attire soliciting money in exchange for non-existent army jobs. Under the guidance of DSP Avnishwar Chandra Srivastava, a dedicated team led by Inspector Santosh Kumar Singh executed the raid.
The authorities have registered a case against Kumar under several provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including charges of cheating, impersonation, and forgery. The local police continue to investigate further into the matter, and the Indian Army has been informed of the impersonation incident.
Officials have urged the public to remain vigilant and to be wary of fraudulent recruitment schemes, emphasizing that all official army recruitment processes are conducted transparently via verified online platforms, devoid of intermediaries or agents.
