Harish Kumar, also known as Saurabh Srivastava, was arrested by Mathura police on Tuesday night for allegedly posing as a paramilitary officer to deceive job seekers and marry women under false pretenses. He was nabbed from Saunkh Road after police acted on a complaint filed by a woman he had reportedly married while also promising her brother a government job.
Originally from Prayagraj, Harish Kumar had been working as an insurance agent before he started forging a new identity. While selling insurance policies, he formed contacts with people in paramilitary and police camps, which helped him build a network for his fake identity. He used these connections to extort large sums from victims, luring young men with promises of government jobs that never materialized.
During his arrest, police found a car with a police sticker, a fake ID card claiming to be an SSB assistant commandant, a CRPF officer’s uniform, a UP Police cap, and several Aadhaar cards and debit cards. Investigators also recovered two laptops containing images of security personnel, including pictures of Kumar in paramilitary uniforms.
According to SP City Arvind Kumar, Harish Kumar used social media to portray himself as a high-ranking officer, frequently posting pictures of himself in different uniforms to gain credibility. Many unsuspecting victims, believing him to be a genuine officer, paid large sums for fake government job offers.
In addition to financial fraud, police say Kumar also targeted women for marriage, exploiting them before disappearing. Investigations have revealed that he had committed similar crimes in other locations, including Prayagraj, where authorities are now searching for him in connection with other fraud cases.
Investigations are ongoing as authorities work to identify other victims and any potential accomplices involved in his scam.
