IMA cadet held for faking identity

He wanted to prove that his IQ was not low and he had the qualities to become an army officer. So, he took on a new avatar. Sanjeev Yadav became Deepak Yadav — borrowing the name of his younger brother — and re-entered the Indian Military Academy (IMA) in Dehradun as a gentleman cadet. And he did well this time till he was found out just four days before the passing out ceremony. He was arrested on Tuesday. Rakesh Ranjan reports.

He wanted to prove that his IQ was not low and he had the qualities to become an army officer. So, he took on a new avatar.

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Sanjeev Yadav became Deepak Yadav — borrowing the name of his younger brother — and re-entered the Indian Military Academy (IMA) in Dehradun as a gentleman cadet. And he did well this time till he was found out just four days before the passing out ceremony. He was arrested on Tuesday.

In 2005, Sanjeev was thrown out of the academy on disciplinary grounds. Then Sanjeev did his masters in Chemistry from Meerut University and appeared for the IMA entrance exams as Deepak Yadav.

Sanjeev, 25, however, has unknowingly exposed the gaps in the IMA selection procedure and the security system as well. For, although he was in the academy since July this year, nobody could detect that Deepak was actually Sanjeev.

“I was dismissed for low IQ and lack of officer-like qualities. Then I decided to prove myself again. I acquired a fake certificate in the name of Deepak Yadav and performed better in all tests this time,” Sanjeev told mediapersons after his arrest.

Sanjeev’s father S.R. Yadav, a retired Major, said, “He is not an extremist. But he defied the law.”

(Inputs from S. Raju/Meerut)