Man Posing as Army Officer Arrested for Fake Recruitment Scam in Pune
Reported by Mubarak Ansari
Pune, 1st March 2025: A joint operation by the Military Intelligence (MI) of the Army’s Southern Command and Pune Police led to the arrest of a man accused of running a fake Army recruitment racket. The suspect, identified as Suryawanshi Nitin Balaji of Latur district, was apprehended near the Southern Command headquarters in Pune at 5 PM on Saturday.
According to police officials, Suryawanshi targeted aspiring candidates from economically weaker backgrounds in Maharashtra and Karnataka, promising them recruitment into the Army. He allegedly charged ₹3 lakh per candidate, fraudulently collecting an estimated ₹10 to ₹15 lakh.
The arrest was made following a complaint by a 23-year-old youth from Nanded district, who had paid ₹1.75 lakh to the accused. The complainant, who is involved in farming and has been preparing for recruitment in the Army and police services, met Suryawanshi at Latur railway station. The accused falsely claimed to be serving in the Army and assured him of recruitment.
Subsequently, the victim met Suryawanshi near the Sub Area Canteen at Southern Command headquarters, where he handed over the money in cash and through UPI transactions. However, when the youth repeatedly inquired about his recruitment, the accused began ignoring his calls.
Upon receiving intelligence about the fraudulent activities, the Military Intelligence unit shared inputs with the Bundgarden police station, leading to surveillance and verification. The joint team of MI and Pune Police then arrested the accused.
An FIR has been registered under sections 318(4), 218, and 219 of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), with investigations ongoing to identify more victims. The fraudulent activities were carried out between August 2024 and March 2025.
Authorities have urged potential Army aspirants to be cautious and follow official recruitment channels to avoid falling prey to such scams.
