Pune: Man Arrested for Running Fake Army Recruitment Scam
Pune Police Arrest Two For Molesting Journalist During Ganpati Visarjan
Pune Police, in collaboration with the Military Intelligence (MI) unit of the Army’s Southern Command, arrested a man on Saturday for running a fraudulent Army recruitment scheme that duped multiple individuals.
The accused, identified as Suryawanshi Nitin Balaji from Latur district, Maharashtra, was caught near the Southern Command headquarters in Pune. According to police investigations, Suryawanshi targeted candidates from economically weaker backgrounds in Maharashtra and Karnataka, promising them jobs in the Army in exchange for money. He allegedly charged ₹3 lakh per candidate, amassing ₹5-10 lakh through these fraudulent activities.
A case has been registered against him under sections 318(4), 218, and 219 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and investigations are ongoing to identify more victims. The scam is believed to have been active between August 2024 and March 2025.
How Was He Caught?
The arrest was triggered by a complaint from Bharat Mahate, a 23-year-old farmer from Nanded district, who aspired to join the Army or police. Mahate met Suryawanshi at Latur railway station, where the latter falsely claimed to be an active Army soldier and assured him a job in exchange for ₹1.75 lakh.
Mahate later met Suryawanshi again near the Sub Area Canteen at the Southern Command headquarters in Pune, where he handed over the money in cash and through UPI transactions. However, when Mahate repeatedly inquired about his recruitment status, Suryawanshi ignored his calls.
Suspecting fraud, the Military Intelligence unit alerted the Bundgarden police, leading to surveillance and verification of the accused. A joint operation by MI and Pune Police led to his arrest.
