Mumbai: A conman who allegedly posed as a naval officer and cheated his classmate and two of her friend by promising to get them jobs in the Indian Navy was arrested in Vashi on Saturday. Police said Manish Krishna Arishla, 22, was picked up based on an FIR registered on Wednesday at the NRI Coastal police station by Ulwe resident Reshma Patil.
Arishala has been arrested under IPC sections 420 (cheating), 406 ( criminal breach of trust), 468 (forgery for the purpose of cheating) and 471 (using a forged document as genuine). He was produced in a local court, which remanded him in police custody till Monday.
According to PI Arvind Patil, NRI Coastal police station, Arishla and Patil studied together till class 10 and then lost touch. Years later, Arishala traced Ms. Patil to the construction firm where she worked, and dropped by to meet her. Posing as an Indian Navy officer, he told her during the course of their conversation that he could help her get a job as an accountant in the navy.
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As they renewed their friendship, Arishala asked Ms. Patil to sound out her friends, two of whom responded positively. Sensing their eagerness, he told Ms. Patil her friends would have to travel to New Delhi with him, where he would be meeting a government officer and make arrangements to get them their navy jobs. “Ms. Patil picked up the tab for travel and accommodation. He then took them to Goa, where he showed them some naval vessels they could be deployed on. He promised storekeeper jobs to Ms. Patil’s friends. To allay suspicion, Arishala got them navy uniforms and fake appointment letters,” Mr. Patil said.
When Ms. Patil and her friends realised the appointment letters were fake and that they had been cheated, she asked Arishala to return ₹3.15 lakh she had given him for facilitating the navy jobs. After several unsuccessful attempts, she approached the police.
Mr. Patil said, “People should understand that employment in the navy, army and air force is possible only by appearing for specific exams and interviews, and not through an officer or agent. Arishala, a Vashi resident, has studied only till Class XII and wa unemployed. We’re investigating to ascertain if he has cheated others in a similar manner.”
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