Himachal Pradesh Police Detain Hotel Employee Arpan Katoch for Allegedly Posing as Army Colonel in Kasauli
Himachal Pradesh Police have detained a 31-year-old man in Solan district for allegedly posing as a senior Indian Army officer, wearing a military uniform and carrying what appeared to be an Army identity card in the Kasauli area. The accused, identified as Arpan Katoch, is suspected of using the false identity to avoid paying toll tax, according to local reports and police accounts cited in the source article.
Katoch is said to be a resident of Tikri village under Duhki Post Office in Baijnath tehsil of Kangra district. He had reportedly been living in rented accommodation in the Sunardi area near Kasauli while working at a private hotel. Some reports identified him as a chef. Police believe he had been presenting himself as an Army Colonel.
The case came to light after Military Intelligence received information on October 23 that a man was moving around Kot village and nearby areas dressed in Indian Army uniform and introducing himself as an officer. That information was passed on to the local police, following which the Garhkhal police post under Kasauli Police Station began an inquiry.
A police team led by Assistant Sub-Inspector Lalit Kumar traced the suspect to his rented accommodation and questioned him about his claimed military credentials. During verification, investigators found that he was not a serving Army officer but was employed at a private hotel.
Suspected use of fake Army identity
According to a report published by Divya Himachal on October 26, preliminary police inquiry indicated that the accused had allegedly adopted the identity of an Indian Army Colonel to avoid toll charges. The report said he had obtained military-style clothing and identification documents to pass himself off as a senior officer.
At the same time, investigators have not publicly established how many times he allegedly used the fake military identity, which toll plazas may have been involved, or whether he gained any financial advantage through the alleged impersonation.
Liquor canteen card recovered
Police reportedly recovered an Army-style liquor canteen card bearing Katoch’s name and photograph in military uniform during the investigation. When questioned about the validity of the card and his links to the Indian Army, he was reportedly unable to produce documents showing that he was actually serving in the military.
Authorities are now trying to establish how he obtained the Army uniform, military insignia and the suspected forged identification documents. Investigators are also examining whether anyone else helped him acquire these items or whether he used the alleged military identity in other situations.
Case registered under BNS
Kasauli Police have registered a case against the accused under Section 168 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, which deals with wearing the garb or carrying tokens used by public servants with fraudulent intent.
DSP Parwanoo Anil Sharma confirmed that the matter was under investigation and said additional legal provisions could be added if further offences were found. Solan Superintendent of Police S.D. Verma also confirmed police action in the case and said the circumstances surrounding the alleged impersonation were being examined.
The procedural status of the accused remains unclear. While several reports said he had been arrested, another reported that he was released after questioning following the issuance of a notice. Official clarification on that point is still awaited.
Investigators are also trying to determine whether the alleged impersonation was limited to evading toll payments or whether the accused used the assumed military identity for other purposes. The incident has prompted concern over the misuse of military uniforms and identification documents, particularly in areas near military establishments.
Kasauli has a military cantonment, making the alleged impersonation a matter of concern for local security agencies. At present, there is no verified evidence linking the accused to espionage, theft of military information or any wider security network.
Police say the investigation will continue to establish the origin of the suspected fake documents, the extent of the accused’s activities while posing as an Army officer and whether any additional offences were committed. The allegations against Katoch remain subject to investigation and judicial determination.
