Army recruitment scam accused booked after 16 months

Our Correspondent

Ahmedgarh, October 24

After shuttling between many offices for 16 months a youth of Phallewal village in Ludhiana district has succeeded in getting a swindler booked for allegedly duping several persons of the region of Rs23.7 lakh on pretext of getting them recruited in the Army.

The accused, who is already languishing in Aligarh Jail in Uttar Pradesh, in connection with a similar case registered at the Iglas police station has been identified as Sarwan Singh, alias Pardeep, alias Peeru, of Nurpur Bet town in Ludhiana district.

Though complainants led by Chanan Singh of Phallewal village had lodged a formal complaint on August 25, 2020, at the office of the Senior Superintendent of Police at Jagraon, a case under Section 420 and 406, IPC, was registered at the Jodhan police station on the intervention of the SSP, Ludhiana (Rural), Rajbachan Singh.

Investigation officer Jagrup Singh informed further action would be taken after bringing the accused on production warrants.

The Ludhiana (Rural) police has initiated a probe into the fake Army employment scam in which the swindler posing as a senior Army official had not only duped dozens of youth of the region on pretext on recruitment, but also invited them to Indian Air Force Station, Halwara, to board an Army airplane to reach their place of posting on July 17, 2020.

It was then suspected that around 100 youth of Malwa had shelled out approximately Rs50 lakh for serving the nation in various wings of the Army. Interestingly, no advertisement for recruitment was published. All victims were lured through messages for recruitment.

Having failed to get recruited in Army in 52 attempts, despite being an athlete Chanan Singh was lured by the uniformed swindler, who introduced himself as Lt-Col Sandeep Gill. Impressed by his disposition Chanan persuaded other youth of his village to reach Guru Nanak Stadium, Ludhiana, for initial screening and then Jallandhar for appearing in written examination for the final selection.

“Though no examination was held when we reached Jallandhar , Gill informed us telephonically that things had been managed otherwise,” Chanan told the Sudhar police during preliminary investigation, when he along with other victims, visited the police station to lodge a complaint on July 17, 2020.

Victims were provided kits containing trousers and T shirts and asked to get ready for reporting at respective units soon thereafter.