Martyr soldier's widow alleges rape, Rs 1.75 crore extortion by man posing as Army Colonel
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, June 26, 2026: The widow of a martyr soldier has lodged a complaint with the Panchkula Police, alleging that a man posing as an Indian Army Colonel sexually assaulted her, blackmailed her with objectionable photographs and extorted around ₹1.75 crore over a period of nearly one and a half years.
Addressing a press conference at the Chandigarh Press Club, Pragati Bajpai, wife of late soldier L.N. Dwivedi, said her husband was martyred in 2022 during a military rehearsal in Suratgarh, Rajasthan.
According to the complainant, the accused, identified as Rahul Arya, introduced himself as a Colonel in the Indian Army and claimed to have been a close acquaintance of her late husband. She alleged that he gained her confidence by offering to help secure her pending death claim benefits.
Pragati Bajpai alleged that after inviting her to Panchkula on the pretext of assisting with official work, Rahul Arya met her in Army uniform and later called her to a hotel on February 8, 2023. She claimed that he allegedly drugged her food, following which she lost consciousness and was sexually assaulted.
She further alleged that the accused later threatened to circulate objectionable photographs of her unless she paid him money. According to the complaint, he allegedly extorted around ₹1.75 crore through repeated blackmail over the next 18 months.
The complainant said she later approached the Military Police, which advised her to file a complaint with the civil police. She subsequently submitted a complaint at the Women’s Police Station, Sector 5, Panchkula, on June 18 and recorded her detailed statement on June 24.
Pragati Bajpai also alleged that during her own inquiry, she discovered Rahul Arya was not an Army officer and had allegedly been using a fake Army identity card and military uniform. She further claimed that he falsely projected himself as the nephew of a senior Haryana Congress leader and held other influential positions.
She also alleged that the accused had previously faced criminal proceedings, including a rape case in Delhi.
The complainant has sought a fair and impartial investigation and demanded strict legal action against the accused under relevant provisions relating to rape, cheating, impersonation, forgery, criminal intimidation and other applicable offences.
Police are yet to issue an official statement on the allegations.