After nearly two years of successfully fooling police personnel and civilians alike, a fake Army Major who lived a double life in Chandigarh has finally been arrested. The accused, identified as Ganesh Bhatt, a native of Pithoragarh (Uttarakhand) and resident of Panchkula, was nabbed by the crime branch following an internal inquiry.
Bhatt, who had cultivated close ties with a CIA inspector, regularly borrowed the officer’s official vehicle, driver, and even gunman to project the image of a decorated Army officer. He frequently sat inside the crime branch office, where the inspector allegedly introduced him to colleagues as his “cousin.”
Behind this façade, Bhatt allegedly duped several people by promising jobs and favors. One of his victims was a woman constable posted at Sector 11 police station, from whom he took ₹5 lakh and a gold ring under the false pretext of marriage.
The charade collapsed when SP (Crime) Jasbir Singh noticed irregularities and ordered an inquiry. Inputs from intelligence agencies confirmed that Bhatt had never served in the Army. A secret FIR was lodged, leading to his arrest.
Serial Impostor Since 2018
Investigations revealed that Bhatt has been conning people since at least 2018, siphoning off more than ₹50–60 lakh through various impersonation schemes.
- In 2023, under the alias Major Dinesh Dahiya, he promised recruitment into the armed forces as Agniveers, charging candidates ₹5 lakh each. Army Intelligence eventually trapped and arrested him.
- In 2021, he was caught while trying to enter Chandimandir cantonment in Panchkula disguised as an Army Major, with uniforms and boots seized from him.
To maintain his cover, Bhatt avoided personal bank accounts, using those of associates instead. He even clicked photographs with senior politicians and introduced himself as a Major to a former Chandigarh DGP to bolster his false credentials.
Despite multiple arrests in the past, Bhatt continued to reinvent himself and prey on new victims. Police say further investigations are underway to uncover the full extent of his network.
