Indian Army personnel have arrested a 21-year-old man in an elaborate sting operation for allegedly posing as a high-ranking military official and wearing an army uniform in Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh.
Army personnel laid a trap to nab the fake Brigadier, who was allegedly traveling around Shahjahanpur and adjoining areas pretending to be a senior army official dressed as a Brigadier.
How was the accused arrested?
The accused has been identified as Aryan Verma. There are several pieces of information about his movements in military uniform in and around Shahjahanpur, and the army authorities have been tracking him since April, officials said, HT reported earlier.
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To arrest him, army officials set a trap for him and he entered directly.
Always presenting himself as a high-ranking military official dressed as a brigadier general, Verma was invited by army officials, disguised as civilians, to speak to and motivate young candidates preparing for recruitment exams. A fake program was also organized at the Shaheed Museum located in Shahjahanpur Cantonment area.
As expected, Verma appeared at the spot on Friday morning dressed as a brigadier general in a four-wheel drive car, and was immediately arrested. According to officials, his uniform was decorated with military stars and flags associated with senior officers.
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The accused had a driver and two bodyguards
It was clear during Verma’s arrest that his ruse ran deep. During his arrest, a fake government ID card was recovered from his driver. Investigators also found that he was walking around with two guards, whom he allegedly introduced as National Security Guard commandos. Verma reportedly claimed that, as a high-ranking military officer, he was provided special protection.
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Along with his uniform, Verma also carried a fake pistol and a regimental baton to complete his stunt, all of which were seized from his possession. He even carried an identity card that allegedly bore the stamp of the Dean of the Armed Forces Medical College. Officials suspect that the ID card is forged.
On recovering the documents from Verma’s possession, the authorities discovered that he was 21 years old and was residing in Delhi. He was preparing for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Examination (NEET), and entrance exams for medical studies, and allegedly failed the exam several times.
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The motive behind Verma posing as a military official is unknown. A military intelligence team from Bareilly took over the investigation and is trying to confirm the matter. They are also trying to understand the extent of Verma’s scam, how he obtained a fake ID and uniform, and whether or not more people were involved in the act.
Superintendent of Police Saurabh Dixit said that the accused is currently being interrogated by the Army authorities, after which his custody will be handed over to the police and an FIR will be lodged for a thorough investigation.
According to officials, Verma’s father is an employee in the horticulture department and his mother is a school teacher.
(With inputs from Hizb ut Tahrir correspondent)
