Fake Army Recruitment Racket Busted in Pune as Man Dupes Aspirants

In a joint operation, the Military Intelligence (MI) unit of the Army’s Southern Command and Pune Police apprehended a man accused of running a fraudulent Army recruitment scheme. The suspect, identified as Suryawanshi Nitin Balaji from Latur district, was arrested near the Southern Command headquarters in Pune at 5 PM on Saturday.

According to police reports, Suryawanshi targeted young aspirants from financially weaker backgrounds in Maharashtra and Karnataka, luring them with promises of recruitment into the Indian Army. He allegedly charged ₹3 lakh per candidate, amassing an estimated ₹10 to ₹15 lakh through fraudulent means.

The scam came to light when a 23-year-old youth from Nanded district, who had paid ₹1.75 lakh to the accused, filed a complaint. The victim, a farmer preparing for recruitment in the Army and police services, first met Suryawanshi at Latur railway station. Posing as an Army official, the accused assured him of securing a position in the force.

Believing the false promises, the young aspirant later met Suryawanshi near the Sub Area Canteen at the Southern Command headquarters, where he handed over the money both in cash and through UPI transactions. However, as time passed and his recruitment did not materialize, the victim grew suspicious. Repeated calls to the accused went unanswered, raising further doubts.

Acting on intelligence gathered by the Military Intelligence unit, officials coordinated with Bundgarden police station to track the suspect. After thorough surveillance and verification, a joint team of MI and Pune Police successfully arrested him.

An FIR has been registered against Suryawanshi under sections 318(4), 218, and 219 of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS). Investigations are underway to uncover additional victims who may have fallen prey to this scam between August 2024 and March 2025.

Authorities have issued a stern warning to Army aspirants, urging them to rely only on official recruitment channels and avoid getting trapped in such fraudulent schemes. With this arrest, law enforcement has sent a strong message that such deceptive practices will not go unpunished.