A Junagadh swindler who had been posing as an Indian Army Captain and National Security Advisor (NSA) official has been nabbed. 

Police arrested Pravin Solanki from Bawa Pipliya, Kodinar, for allegedly extorting ₹3.05 lakh from a national-level cyclist under the pretext of securing him a railway job. They also seized fake NSA identity cards, a counterfeit Army Canteen Stores Department (CSD) canteen smart card, a mobile phone, and an Army Captain's uniform from him.

Divyesh Bhutiya told the police that he first met Solanki on a train in February, en route to the National Cycling Championship in Jalandhar. Solanki introduced himself as an Army Captain, and said he was posted in Jammu and Kashmir in an NSA post. 

He showed Bhutiya a Captain’s pay slip, an Army CSD canteen smart card, and an NSA identity card to establish credibility, Bhutiya said. The investigation into the case has since proven that all these documents were forgeries. 

Then, Solanki — who claimed to have high-level contacts — offered to get the Joshipura native a job as a railway loco pilot. All Bhutiya had to do was to pay him ₹6 lakh.

Under pressure from the scamster, Bhutiya transferred ₹3.05 lakh via Google Pay since he did not have access to the whole ₹6 lakh at the time. 

Once he had the money, Solanki allegedly started to give Bhutiya excuses, including “delays due to the Lok Sabha elections”, instead of the promised job. 

As weeks turned into months, Bhutiya demanded either the job or a refund. Solanki responded by sending him a fake Army card and threatening “dire consequences” if he continued to complain.

Eventually, tired of getting the runaround after shelling out so much, Bhutiya filed a complaint at B Division Police Station, leading to the arrest. 

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