Pune : Fake Naval officer arrested on charges of running a fake recruitment scheme

By: Pune Pulse

June 21, 2023

Pune: Lonavala police laid a trap and successfully arrested a man impersonating as a naval officer who had been involved in a fraudulent recruitment scheme. 

The accused, identified as Akash Kashinath Dange (28), was taken into custody during a carefully planned operation by the team of Lonavala police and officers from INS Shivaji Lonavala Naval Police.

Dange, along with his accomplices Jayaraj Anandrao Chavan and Abhay Sevagiri Kakade was found in possession of incriminating evidence. The police also seized some items including a luxury motor car (Hyundai Verna), a navy white dress, a navy nameplate, stamps, car number plate with a royal seal, and other materials estimated to be worth Rs 15 lakh.

The investigation was initiated based on a complaint filed by Aishwarya Krishna Lendghar, who runs a notary business in  Lonavala. As per information, in September 2022, the accused approached Lendghar, posing as a naval officer in uniform, and coerced her into making an affidavit. Subsequently, he repeatedly visited her office, falsely claiming to represent the Navy. Exploiting this ruse, Dange pressured Lendghar and her acquaintances in the Lonavala area to secure jobs in the Navy. They demanded a sum of Rs. 3 lakhs from each individual for employment.

Doubting the legitimacy of the scheme, Lendghar contacted officers at INS Shivaji, Lonavala, only to discover that there were no ongoing recruitment processes. When she approached the accused again, pretending to be interested in employing another person, he readily agreed. Sensing the opportunity to catch the fraudsters, Lendghar promptly informed the police about their intentions to accept the payment and provide a fake job appointment letter.

In a coordinated effort, a joint team comprising officers from the Lonavla City Police Station and INS Shivaji Lonavala Naval Police Team swiftly raided the location and detained the three suspects.