Rajkot Man Posed As IAF Squadron Leader: The Rajkot City Police have arrested a 33-year-old man for allegedly pretending to be an Indian Air Force Squadron Leader and taking ₹1.95 lakh from a woman by promising her a job in the defence forces.
The accused has been identified as Prateek Bharadwaj. He lives in Rajkot and works at a local travel agency. Police arrested him on September 11 after an investigation began following a complaint made through Gujarat’s new cyber reporting system.
Man used fake IAF identity on Instagram
The woman is in her mid-twenties and is from Rajkot, though she currently lives in Gandhinagar. Police said she came across Bharadwaj’s Instagram profile and contacted him.
His social media account reportedly had photos in what looked like an IAF uniform. He had also shared several videos related to the Suryakiran Aerobatics Team (SKAT), the Indian Air Force’s well-known aerobatic display team.
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Bharadwaj allegedly used these posts to make the woman believe that he was a real Air Force officer. He reportedly told her that he was a Squadron Leader posted at Bidar Air Force Station in Karnataka. Bidar is the operational base of SKAT’s 52 Squadron.
After gaining her trust, he allegedly promised to help her get an appointment in the Air Force. Over a period of time, the woman reportedly paid him ₹1.95 lakh for the promised job. No recruitment or appointment happened later.
Complaint filed through 1930 cyber helpline
After realising that she had allegedly been cheated, the woman approached the authorities. She filed a complaint on September 4 through the national 1930 Cyber Helpline. The complaint was first registered as an “e-Zero FIR”. It was later sent to the Gandhigram-2 (University) Police Station in Rajkot for further investigation.
Police said Bharadwaj didn’t appear to have taken many steps to hide his real phone number or identity while carrying out the alleged fraud. Investigators believe this could indicate that it was his first job-related cheating case.
Police also found that he has a previous criminal record. Two cases have already been registered against him under the Gujarat Prohibition Act.
Police checking for more victims
Investigators are now examining Bharadwaj’s financial records and other details linked to his social media activity. They are checking whether he may have used the same fake Air Force identity to approach and cheat other job seekers.
The investigation is also looking at the money received by him to find out whether more people could have been targeted through the same recruitment promise.
