STF busts gang involved in Army recruitment fraud in Meerut

Meerut: UP Special Task Force (STF) arrested a member of a gang involved in duping job aspirants on the pretext of providing employment in the Indian Army. The operation was launched under the supervision of additional SP Brijesh Kumar Singh after intelligence reports indicated the gang's activities, leading to formation of teams to gather information and track down the culprits.
According to official sources, STF received a tip-off from Army Intelligence, Central Command and informers that one Arvind Rana, a resident of Badaun, was posing as a havildar in the Indian Army.He and his associates allegedly collected Rs 4-5 lakh from each candidate in return for fake medical certificates and joining letters.
On receiving information that Rana was scheduled to meet someone at MH Hospital in Meerut Cantt, the STF team -- led by SIs Arun Kumar Nigam, Durvesh Dabas and Sanjay Kumar -- nabbed him near the hospital on Thursday.
During interrogation, Rana confessed to his involvement in the fraud. He revealed that after leaving his job in the merchant navy, he was lured into the illegal scheme by his associates Saurabh, Yogesh Gautam, Ajay (alias Guruji), Bittu (alias Pahalwan) and Vishnu (alias Balram).
The gang duped aspiring army job-seekers by conducting fake medical tests and issuing fraudulent joining letters. To appear legitimate, Rana even obtained a fake Army identity card, Aadhaar card and PAN card, and used these to stay at various hotels and hide his identity. Rana admitted to preparing fake medical reports for around 40 candidates and issuing counterfeit joining letters.
An FIR was registered against him at Sadar Bazar police station in Meerut under sections 318 (2), 318 (4), 336, 338, 340, 61 (2) (a) of BNS.