Army Intelligence, Pune Police Arrest MTS Staffer in Job Scam; Case Linked to NDA Suicide
Yerwada, 29th January 2026: In a joint operation with the Indian Army’s Southern Command Intelligence Branch, Pune Police have arrested Swapnil Murlidhar Gaikwad from Ahmedabad, where he was posted with an Army Supply Corps unit. Gaikwad, a multi-tasking staff (MTS), is accused of running a large-scale job racket in which he allegedly collected ₹30–35 lakh from multiple candidates by promising government jobs.
The arrest comes in the backdrop of a suicide at the National Defence Academy (NDA), Khadakwasla earlier this month. Mayur Pawar, who was linked to the case, allegedly took his life after people who had paid money for jobs began demanding their funds back.
Police said the FIR has so far been registered based on a complaint involving ₹24 lakh taken from three candidates. Further complaints are expected as more victims come forward.
Earlier, the Laxminagar Police had registered a case (FIR No. 0046/2026) under Sections 318(4) (cheating) and 3(5) (common intention) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, against Swapnil Gaikwad and his associate Sagar Digambar Patil, the alleged mastermind from Jalgaon.
The complaint was lodged by Dinesh Shankar Rathod (37), an optical shop owner from Ramnagar, Yerawada. Rathod said his cousin Mayur Pawar had introduced him to Gaikwad in August 2023. During a visit to Rathod’s home, Gaikwad learned that Rathod’s wife held a degree in electronic engineering and allegedly claimed he could arrange a Sub-Engineer post for her in the Indian Railways through his “PA to a minister” contact at Mantralaya.
Believing the claims, Rathod transferred ₹8 lakh through RTGS. In November 2023, the accused allegedly widened the net by promising jobs to Rathod’s cousins — Nilesh, Sachin and Rakesh Rathod from Karnataka — at ₹8 lakh each. Money was collected via RTGS, UPI and cash, including a ₹2 lakh handover at a bar near Nanded City, Pune.
In total, the victims transferred about ₹19.15 lakh. When appointment letters did not materialise, the accused returned around ₹5 lakh but failed to repay the remaining ₹14.15 lakh. Police say a fake WhatsApp list showing employment was also circulated to mislead the victims.
With Gaikwad now in custody, investigators believe the scale of the scam is much larger than the amount mentioned in the initial FIR. “He has taken ₹24 lakh from three candidates and approximately ₹30–35 lakh in total from several others. More cases are likely to be added,” said an official.
