Pune: The Lonavla City police are searching for a man from Satara district who allegedly duped at least 10 job aspirants of Rs 25 lakh by posing as an Indian Navy officer and promising them jobs in the force.The accused allegedly issued fake appointment letters to the victims. A 56-year-old employee of a defence establishment in Lonavla lodged a complaint with the Lonavla City police on Thursday. The accused has been booked under Sections 204 (personating a public servant), 205 (wearing the garb of, or carrying a token used by, a public servant with fraudulent intent), and 318 (cheating) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with relevant provisions of the Official Secrets Act.Inspector Sachin Patil of the Lonavla City police told TOI that the accused is a history-sheeter and has similar cases registered against him at different police stations.“According to the complainant, the accused posed as a Navy officer and contacted candidates from rural areas across different districts in Maharashtra. He wore a Navy uniform, carried a fake identity card, and promised them jobs in the Indian Navy. We are investigating how he got the numbers of the job aspirants,” Patil said.The accused collected money from the candidates on various pretexts. “The investigation revealed that he showed them the Navy’s website and even took them near the defence establishment under the pretext of showing them their prospective workplace,” Patil said.Patil said the police invoked provisions of the Official Secrets Act because the accused allegedly misused information available on the Navy’s website and issued fake appointment letters to the candidates.“So far, 10 candidates have approached us,” Patil said.The officer said the investigation also revealed that a few days ago, the accused had taken at least 20 candidates outside the premises of a defence establishment in Pune. “We suspect he may have collected money from them as well. The accused, a resident of Satara district, is absconding. We will arrest him soon,” the officer said.
