Army’s Military Intelligence and Ahmednagar Police Arrest Impostor Posing As RAW Agent
Mubarak Ansari
Ahmednagar/Pune, 23rd June 2023: In a joint operation conducted by the Local Crime Branch (LCB) of Ahmednagar District Police and Army’s Southern Command Military Intelligence (MI) in Pune, an impostor who was illegally carrying fake identity cards, badges, and documents under the pretense of being an RAW intelligence agent has been arrested.
“The investigation is ongoing to determine his motive. The timely arrest has prevented any potential security breaches that could have occurred due to his possession of a fake identity,” an officer said.
Acting on concrete lead from MI yesterday, Superintendent of Police (Ahmednagar) Rakesh Ola ordered Police Inspector Dinesh Aher from the Local Crime Branch to verify the suspect’s identity and take appropriate legal action. A team comprising officers from the Local Crime Branch and Military Intelligence was formed to carry out the operation.
On the evening of 22nd June, the team confronted the suspect at Samarth School in Professor Colony Chowk, Savedi in Ahmednagar, where he was disguised in a red T-shirt and blue jeans, carrying a sack. As the team prepared to arrest him, the suspect attempted to flee but was swiftly pursued and apprehended.
The suspect identified himself as Santosh Atmaram Rathod, aged 35, from Divate in Shevgaon taluka of Ahmednagar district, claiming to be an officer from the Intelligence Department of the Army. Upon verifying the suspect’s identity card and documents, the police and military officers confirmed their falsity. The Military Intelligence team further verified that the suspect, Santosh Atmaram Rathod, was not serving in the army.
A case was filed against the impostor at Tofkhana Police Station, Ahmednagar, for possession of forged documents, including a identity card and a mobile phone worth Rs 10,000. The accused has studied MA and B.Ed.
The successful operation was conducted under the guidance of Superintendent of Police Rakesh Ola, Additional Superintendent of Police Prashant Khaire and Sub Divisional Police Officer Anil Katkade. The team included Police Inspector Dinesh Aher, PSI Tushar Dhakrao and police personnel Atul Lotke, Devendra Shelar, Ravindra Kardele, Sachin Aadbal, Vijay Thombre, Santosh Khaire, Akash Kale and Amrit Adhav.
