The Delhi Police have arrested the alleged mastermind, identified as Yogender alias Bunty (39), a resident of Charkhi Dadri in Haryana, behind the fake Indian Territorial Army recruitment racket from Haridwar.
The accused was devising the interstate racket, duping unemployed rural youths on the pretext of arranging jobs with the Indian Territorial Army, Indian Railways and Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC).
The matter surfaced when, as confirmed by the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime), Ram Gopal Naik, on May 3, Sudheer a resident of Charkhi Dadri, registered a complaint alleging that he was cheated of Rs 5 lakh by the gang for a job in the Army.
Naik furthered that the gang subjected the victims to fake physical tests and medical examination at the army grounds and Base Hospital, Delhi Cantt. area. Similarly, fake interviews were also conducted by the accused. Forged appointment letters were issued to the victims and they were sent to distant places for duty. When they landed at the venue it was then they realised that they had been cheated, said the complaint.
Those arrested, namely, Amit Kumar, Sunil Kumar, Pradeep, Devender and Sandeep have revealed, while being interrogated by the Delhi police, that many serving and retired army officials were part of the racket.
The Delhi police declared a reward of Rs 50,000 on Yogender’s arrest, following which the mastermind behind the entire conspiracy, was arrested. A tip-off received by the police, that he was seen roaming on the ghats of Haridwar, disguised as a Sadhu (holy man), helped them to nab him.
Nine mobile phones, nineteen SIM cards, and a car were recovered from his possession, Naik said.
During interrogation, Yogender revealed that a few years ago, he got involved in duping people to make easy money. He involved serving and retired officers in the racket in order to get access to the cantonment area in Delhi, the police said.
