A policeman in India's north-western state of Rajasthan shot himself in the stomach and arm to try to claim a bravery award, officials said Wednesday, dpa reported.
Mahesh Rajguru was recovering from his injuries at a hospital in the state capital, Jaipur, and would be arrested shortly for misusing his duty weapon, they said.
Rajguru claimed that six unidentified men had shot him while he was on duty at a politician's house Sunday night, police officer Arun Machya said by telephone.
"Officials who reached the scene found his statements and the crime scene suspicious," Machya said.
"During questioning on Tuesday, he admitted that no such incident had taken place and he had shot himself to claim a gallantry award," the officer said.
The constable, who suffered three bullet wounds, earlier had claimed that the assailants shot at him and fled in a car.
"A bullet hit my stomach," he told the police, according to the Times of India newspaper. "When I screamed, they ran outside and again opened fire while getting into a car parked outside. Two more bullets hit my shoulders."
During their investigation, police found that all spent cartridges at the scene had come from Rajguru's own gun. They also said they found narcotics in his living quarters.
"He will be arrested soon under the Indian penal code on misuse of firearms," Machya said.
A separate case under the narcotics act would be registered against him, the police officer added.