In a bizarre case, a 21-year-old man allegedly impersonating a Brigadier was arrested by military forces on Friday.
The accused Aryan Verma allegedly posed as a Brigadier in the Indian Army for several weeks before he was caught in an operation at the Shaheed Sangrahalaya “Martyrs Museum” inside the Shahjahanpur Cantonment area.
According to officials, Verma had been moving around the city in a private Tata Harrier SUV fitted with a brigadier’s one-star plate and the Army headquarters flag. He was also accompanied by two hired bouncers, whom he reportedly introduced as National Security Guards commandos. He, meanwhile, posed as a serving senior officer in full military uniform.
Officials had been tracking Verma since April after receiving inputs that he was seen frequently projecting himself as a high-ranking officer wearing the ceremonial outfit of a brigadier.
He came under light after two ex-servicemen grew suspicious of him. They found it highly suspicious that someone that young could hold a high rank and travel around with private security personnel.
To catch the suspect, the officials posed as civilians and invited him to deliver a motivational speech to young candidates preparing for recruitment examinations.
The event was to be scheduled at the Shaheed Museum.
Verma arrived in full uniform in his SUV with the military stars and flags, officials said.
He was detained immediately, along with the two bouncers he hired for Rs 2000 per day, who were introduced as NSG guards.
Officials recovered an identity card which bore the seal of the dean of the Armed Forces Medical College, which they think the suspect forged.
An Army regimental cane and a fake pistol were also seized.
A special Army intelligence team from Bareilly has taken over the investigation and is questioning the accused. They are trying to trace the sources from which he obtained the uniforms, seals, and other insignia that were used for the vehicle.
The Superintendent of Police (SP), Saurabh Dixit, said: "Once the Army finishes with their formal inquiry and hands over the custody of the man to us, we will register an FIR and begin our own investigation."
Verma hails from Durga Enclave Colony in Roza Shahjahanpur and was a NEET aspirant. He had reportedly failed on several attempts at the examination. His father is reportedly a Horticulture Department officer, and his mother is a school teacher.
