Delhi: How Did a Fake Para Commando Scam a Woman Out of Rs 70,000?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Always verify identities before trusting someone.
- Scams can happen to anyone, regardless of their background.
- Trust should be earned, not given freely.
- Report suspicious behavior to authorities immediately.
- Be cautious with online and cash transactions.
New Delhi, Sep 4 (NationPress) The police from Shahdara district in Delhi have detained a 23-year-old individual for assuming the identity of a Lieutenant in the Indian Army's Para Commando unit and defrauding a woman of Rs 70,000 under the guise of marriage.
As reported by the police, a PCR call was made to the Farsh Bazar police station on September 1, wherein the victim, 28-year-old Damini, who owns a medical store in Noida, claimed to have been deceived by a man masquerading as an Army officer.
The suspect, identified as Deepanshu, hails from Sanjeev Nagar, Kanpur, and was apprehended when he arrived to meet her.
A police team, including SI Vinay, ASI Shiv Kumar Solanki, and Ct. Vikrant, under the leadership of Inspector Ajay Karan Sharma (SHO/Farsh Bazar) and oversight by ACP Sanjay Kumar, confirmed the allegations and captured the accused.
An FIR (No. 452/2025) was filed on September 2 under applicable sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Investigators found that Deepanshu had previously taken the NDA exam but did not succeed. Embarrassed to disclose the truth, he downloaded a list of pass-out candidates featuring the name 'Deepanshu' and convinced his parents he had been accepted.
“He extracted the NDA passout candidate list from the portal, which had the name Deepanshu. He misled his parents into believing he was selected and left home, claiming he was heading to NDA Khadakwasla for training. He lived in the Kanpur area, performing odd jobs,” stated the police.
During a wedding event, he encountered Damini and presented himself as a Lieutenant in the Para Commando Force.
Gradually, he visited her multiple times clad in uniform. By earning her confidence, he managed to extract approximately Rs 70,000 through cash and online transfers under various false pretenses.
Upon examining his phone, officials discovered images of him in Army attire, a forged Army ID, an NDA rank list, and a counterfeit appointment letter.
Even his father, a retired Havaldar, was oblivious to his deceit.
The police have seized one Army Lieutenant uniform and a fraudulent identity card.
Further investigations are currently ongoing.