In a serious security breach, a man from Darjeeling was apprehended this week for allegedly impersonating a soldier of the Indian Army, with investigations uncovering suspected links to Pakistan and a case of cyber blackmail.
Joint Operation Leads to Arrest
Bhavesh Ghatani was arrested on Wednesday during a coordinated operation involving military intelligence and the Matigara police. The arrest took place near a shopping mall in the Matigara area. Authorities detained Ghatani around 2:30 PM after he was found roaming inside a retail outlet at the mall, dressed in a complete Indian Army uniform.
He was posing as a subedar and even displayed a para regiment badge on his uniform. The suspect was unable to produce any valid Army identity card or official document that could prove his affiliation with the force, leading to his immediate detention.
Suspicious Foreign Links and Cyber Compromise
During the subsequent investigation, alarming details came to light. An Army official stated that Ghatani had attempted to secure loans through several suspicious mobile applications. Furthermore, his phone records showed frequent incoming calls from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and other countries.
More critically, forensic analysis of his financial records detected financial transactions originating from Pakistani phone numbers in his bank account. Technical examination revealed that Ghatani's mobile phone was infected with malware and had been fully compromised.
"Examination of recovered audio clips and chat records indicated that he was being blackmailed by Pakistani handlers," the official added. The hackers had allegedly accessed his personal family photographs and his entire phone contact list through the compromised device.
Serious Security Implications and Legal Action
The case raises multiple red flags for national security. The key implications identified by officials include:
- Impersonation of Indian Army personnel.
- Suspected financial links with foreign entities.
- Cyber compromise and data theft.
- Possible coercion and blackmail by hostile elements from Pakistan.
The Matigara police produced Bhavesh Ghatani before the court on Thursday. A police officer confirmed, "He has been booked under BNS 168. The mobile phone has been sent for detailed forensic examination to determine the full extent of the foreign links." Investigations by multiple agencies are actively ongoing to unravel the network behind this incident.
