Man Arrested in Latur for Impersonating Police Officer to Cheat Theft Victims
A 25-year-old man has been arrested in Maharashtra's Latur district for allegedly impersonating a police officer to cheat people under the pretext of helping them recover stolen property, according to officials. The accused, identified as Vijay Aniruddha Kadam, a resident of Parbhani, was apprehended on Monday by the Local Crime Branch following an investigation into multiple complaints of cheating in the district.
Modus Operandi of the Fraud
Police revealed that Kadam employed a sophisticated method to target victims. He would track theft cases reported in local newspapers, obtain the contact details of the victims, and then approach them while posing as a police officer. To gain their trust, he showed a video of himself purportedly attending a UPSC interview and used fake documents, including a forged panchnama with a false identity.
The accused promised victims the recovery of their stolen valuables and extracted large sums of money from them, exploiting their distress and hope for justice.
Arrest and Recovery of Cash
The Crime Branch team received a tip-off about a man near New Renapur Naka who was impersonating a police officer and duping people. Acting on this input, police laid a trap and successfully apprehended him. A subsequent search led to the seizure of Rs 4.3 lakh in cash from his possession.
During interrogation, Kadam admitted to his crimes. In one specific case, a complainant from Ahmedpur was duped of Rs 5 lakh on March 19 after being assured of the recovery of stolen gold. Of this amount, the accused had spent Rs 70,000, while the remaining Rs 4.3 lakh was recovered by the police.
Wider Investigation and Previous Frauds
Kadam also confessed to committing similar frauds over the past two years in Nanded and Parbhani districts. Police stated that teams from these districts are now coordinating to probe his involvement in other cases, indicating that the scam may have affected multiple victims across the region.
A case has been registered against him at Ahmedpur police station in Latur under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Authorities are taking this matter seriously to ensure justice is served and to prevent such impersonations in the future.
Police Appeal for Public Vigilance
In light of this incident, police have issued an appeal to the public to remain vigilant. They urge citizens to verify the identity of anyone claiming to be a police officer before engaging with them, especially in situations involving financial transactions or promises of recovery of stolen property.
This arrest highlights the importance of caution and verification when dealing with individuals purporting to be law enforcement officials, as fraudsters often exploit trust to commit crimes.
