Was posted then in Solan district’s Dagshai Cantt
TNR News Network
Solan:
The Himachal Pradesh Police arrested a high-ranking Army officer from Dehradun in connection with a 2023 espionage case that originated in the Dagshai cantonment of Solan district in the state.
The officer, now a Colonel, was accused of using multiple fake identities and is suspected of having links to Pakistani intelligence operatives during his tenure as a Lieutenant Colonel.
Arrest linked to fake IDs, suspicion of espionage
The arrest follows a formal complaint filed on July 6 at the Dharampur police station by another Army officer from the same unit. According to the complaint, Colonel Abhay Pisal had been in possession of forged identity documents, including Aadhaar, PAN, ration cards and driving licence, all issued under false names such as “Tahir Mustafa” and “Vijay Singh”.
The Colonel was also found with an unlicensed 12 bore single-barrel gun, further raising red flags. Defence authorities had initiated an internal probe last year, during which a board from the 95th Infantry Brigade recovered the weapon and multiple fake documents. Their findings prompted the police to open a case under IPC Sections 420, 467 and 468 for cheating and forgery, as well as under Section 25 of the Arms Act.
Multiple identity cards with matching numbers
Investigations suggest that Colonel Pisal had prepared duplicate government-issued identity documents with matching numbers but under different aliases. Items recovered included not only standard IDs but also an armed forces identity card. According to Solan SP Gaurav Singh, the authenticity of the documents is now under scrutiny.
The firearm seized from Pisal had no identifiable serial number or company markings and officials are still trying to trace its origin. The authorities are also examining the channels through which the Colonel may have procured the forged documents.
Colonel Pisal was under suspension for 20 months following the emergence of irregularities in 2023. His activities came under the scanner while he was posted at Dagshai cantonment, where defence intelligence units flagged his behaviour as potentially compromising national security.
The Colonel, originally from Satara district in Maharashtra, was taken into custody by the Dharampur police on Tuesday in Dehradun after a comprehensive investigation. He was presented before a local court on Wednesday and has been remanded in police custody for three days.
