Fake Army recruitment centre busted in Mainpuri; two held for duping youths

AGRA: Mainpuri Police on Wednesday uncovered a fake army and police recruitment centre operating in the Kishani area, arresting two accused—Arvind Kumar Pandey and his associate Sumit—who allegedly duped dozens of youths with false promises of government jobs. The scam came to light after Ashok, a resident of Telangana, filed a complaint stating that he had sent his six sons—Sagar, Chandrashekhar, Srikant, Raviteja, Vijay, and Laxman—for training at the centre in 2024. Each was charged between Rs 2–3 lakh, paid through a mix of online transfers and cash. The centre was run by Pandey, who promised guaranteed placements in the police and armed forces. Ashok said he learned about the centre through a YouTube video in which Pandey appeared dressed in an Army uniform, referring to himself as “Captain” and offering assured employment. Despite undergoing three months of training, none of Ashok’s sons landed a job. When Ashok tried to contact Pandey, he stopped responding and vanished. SP Vinod Kumar said the centre, named “Indian Police Protection Force Centre,” operated from rented premises and resembled a legitimate training institute. It displayed official-looking paraphernalia such as fake ID cards, uniforms, the Ashoka Pillar emblem, and other items to mislead candidates. The centre conducted physical drills and job-readiness sessions under the guise of pre-recruitment training. However, when candidates failed to secure jobs, Pandey blamed their “inadequate performance.” Investigations revealed that Pandey had also launched a website and uploaded promotional content online. He used agents in other states to recruit more candidates by circulating false information. Police seized a fake air gun, medical admit cards, forged ID cards showing Pandey in uniform, laptops, letter pads, and other incriminating documents. Sumit, who assisted in preparing the fake paperwork and managed administrative work, was also arrested. Pandey has a prior criminal record and was previously jailed under IPC Section 420 for cheating. The current case has been registered under Section 318(4) of the BNS (cheating and dishonesty). Police said further investigation is underway.