Pune: Man Impersonates Army Officer To Impress Women, Cheat Shopkeepers; Arrested On Information From Military Intelligence
Mubarak Ansari
Pune, 19th June 2023: A 32-year-old man, who had deserted the Assam Rifles, has been arrested for impersonating an army officer to impress women on matrimonial websites, cheat shopkeepers and gain advantages at toll booths.
The incident came to light when the Military Intelligence (MI) Southern Command Pune team received information about his fraudulent activities.
Accompanied by the Pune Crime Branch team and two witnesses, the MI team conducted a search at Prashant Bhaurao Patil’s residence in Chikhli, Pimpri Chinchwad, Pune. He hails from Belgaum district of Karnataka. During the investigation, Patil admitted that he had served as a Lance Havaldar in the paramilitary force Assam Rifles for twelve years but deserted in 2019. Despite this, he continued to portray himself as an army officer, assuming the rank of Subedar or even Colonel of the 9th Para (Special Forces). He was often seen wandering around the Southern Command Headquarters in Pune Camp, wearing an army uniform to deceive others into believing he was an officer.
Following a complaint filed by policeman Amol Pilane of the Anti-Extortion Cell-2 (Crime Branch), an FIR has been registered against Patil at Bund Garden police station. He is facing charges under sections 170, 171, 420, 465, 468, and 471 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which include fraud, impersonation, and forgery.
Assistant Police Inspector Changdev Sajgane is leading the investigation into the case.
Police said that Patil was found in possession of an Aadhaar card and other identification documents containing a photograph of an army uniform and the address of the Southern Command office. Patil allegedly exploited these forged documents to deceive individuals and evade toll fees while traveling. He has reportedly cheated people in Ahmednagar and Pune, including a woman.
Furthermore, it was discovered that Patil had purchased army uniforms and materials from a shop in the Line Bazaar area of Khadki, Pune, but failed to make the payment. The shopkeeper, a retired soldier, confirmed that Patil had purchased two army officer uniforms worth Rs 4,700 but had not fulfilled his financial obligations.
During the investigation, the police seized two uniforms, three phones (including an iPhone 14), and various identity documents as evidence.
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