A man was arrested for masquerading as an 'Air Force officer' in a joint operation by a Pune-based Southern Command Military Intelligence team and officials from the Kharadi Police Station. According to a statement from Pune Police on Sunday (May 18), the accused, identified as Gaurav Kumar, was intercepted after intelligence inputs suggested his alleged 'suspicious' activities.
Following a thorough verification process and surveillance, a combined team from Southern Command Military Intelligence and Kharadi Police Station detained Kumar at approximately 8:40 pm on Sunday in Kharadi.
"During the search operation, authorities recovered several items linked to the impersonation, including Two Air Force T-shirts, one Air Force Combat Pant, one pair of Combat Shoes, two Air Force Badges, one Track Suit Upper," said a Pune police official.
Police recovered several items from the accused Gaurav Kumar, including-
- 2 Indian Air Force T-shirts
- One pair of IAF combat trousers
- One pair of IAF combat boots
- 2 IAF badges
- 2 IAF tracksuit
Pune Police registers case against Gaurav Kumar
Police have registered a case against the accused under BNS section 168 (wearing uniform or carrying a token used by soldiers) at Kharadi Police Station. The suspect is currently under investigation, and authorities are working to determine the motives behind his actions and any potential security implications.
The accused, identified as Gaurav Kumar, a native of Uttar Pradesh, was detained near Vinayak Apartment, Lane No. 2, Thite Vasti, Kharadi. An FIR has been registered at the Kharadi Police Station based on a complaint filed by Head Constable Ramdas Palve. Gaurav Kumar, who had completed education up to the 12th standard, was working as a receptionist at the Stay Bird Hotel in Kharadi and residing in the Thite Vasti area of Pune.
The accused is originally from Aligarh. Before the arrest, Military Intelligence had been monitoring Gaurav and verifying his details. According to police sources, Kumar used to wear an Indian Air Force uniform and pose as an IAF officer to impress women and establish relationships with them under false pretences. He reportedly deceived some women this way. He has been arrested under Section 168 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), and further investigation is underway.
