An individual posing as a senior army officer attempted to enter Fort William, the headquarters of the Indian Army’s Eastern Command in Kolkata. However, his efforts were thwarted when he failed to provide his personal details in the officer’s entry log.

The individual impersonating an Army Major arrived at Fort William, Kolkata in a black BMW, chauffeured to the entry gate. Presenting an ID card displayed on his phone, he identified himself as Major MS Chauhan from the 5th Gorkha Rifles (Frontier Force) unit. When requested to provide his details in the officer’s entry register, he repeatedly relied on his mobile number for information. This behavior raised suspicions for the on-duty military police officer, prompting them to alert the control room.

Upon investigation, it was discovered that the individual hails from Vishakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh. Further inquiry revealed his status as a habitual offender, having been lodged in a juvenile home in Odisha from September 2023 until February 2024

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After his release on February 13, the imposter lodged at Hotel Pride in Cuttack, where he defrauded the hotel of ₹6,393 before departing. On March 14, he traveled to Howrah Railway Station without a ticket and proceeded to the airport via cab. En route, he contacted Hotel JW Marriott, arranging for a cab to await his arrival at the airport, where he lodged. Subsequently, he hired a BMW cab from the hotel, falsely claiming to be an army officer affiliated with the President’s Bodyguard regiment.

The cab driver, swayed by the imposter’s deceit, sought assistance in enrolling his daughter in Jadavpur University under the defense quota. After visiting the university for this purpose, they proceeded to Fort William for additional formalities. However, it was at Fort William that his deception was exposed, leading to his apprehension by the authorities, who subsequently handed him over to the police.

The imposter had engaged in fraudulent activities by making false digital payments at numerous luxury hotels and shops. His modus operandi involved initiating an online payment through the BHIM app and then manipulating the initial confirmation message to facilitate additional unauthorized payments.

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