The city police busted a racket where several unemployed youths were given fake appointment letters for joining the quick response team (QRT) of the Maharashtra police. The matter came to light after DNA provided crucial evidence.
The city police have busted a racket where several
unemployed youths were given fake appointment letters for joining the quick response team (QRT) of the Maharashtra police.
The police could nab a member of the gang after DNA handed over one such letter that it received from an unemployed youth, Mangesh Bhosale, to them.
The gang, comprising three members, had cheated about 50 youths. Bhosale had paid Rs25,000 for the letter.
The police have arrested a suspect, Sagar Vasant Kamble (21) of Maharashtra Housing Society in Yerawada. The court has remanded him in police custody till May 16. Two of Kamble’s accomplices are absconding.
The senior inspector incharge of the social security cell of crime branch, Bhanupratap Barge, said the gang used a letterhead carrying logos of the Maharashtra Police, the anti-terrorism squad (ATS) and the national emblem.
“The fake appointment letter bore the signature of the Thane commissioner of police, KP Raghuvanshi, who was earlier the chief of ATS of Maharashtra,” Barge said.
After obtaining the fake letter from DNA, the police found a youth, Nitin Gaikwad, who was approached by the trio with an appointment letter.
Gaikwad had paid Rs5,000 in advance and the remaining Rs20,000 was to be paid later.
The police nabbed Kamble on Thursday with the help of Gaikwad.
According to Gaikwad, the trio showed him the appointment letter meant for Bhosale.
“I got suspicious since there were spelling errors. It was then that I decided to take up the matter with the police,” he said.
Police inspector Suneel Tambe of Pune Anti-Terrorism Cell (PATC) along with other members, including a lady officer Vimal Bidwe, laid a trap and arrested Kamble near his residence.
Tambe said, “Kamble used to also lure jobless youths belonging to reserved categories by giving them concession. After learning about his arrest, several victims are now coming forward to register complaints.”
The police sources said that Kamble’s father works at the printing press of Yerawada Jail.
“There could be a possibility that these fake appointment letters were printed in that press,” he said.
Sagar, during interrogation, confessed that he has duped about 50 other youths. He also revealed the name of one of his associates, Kiran Yadav, who hails from Bihar.
Meanwhile, the police have recovered the QRT stamp that was used and other copies of the letterhead.
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