Pune Job Scam: 27 Aspirants Lose ₹4.88 Crore

A massive job scam has been unearthed in Pune, where 27 job aspirants were allegedly cheated of around ₹4.88 crore. The scam involved promises of jobs in central government departments, including India Post, the Food Corporation of India (FCI), and the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.

The Pimpri-Chinchwad Economic Offences Wing (EOW) has registered a case against eight persons, including a self-styled religious leader from Delhi, Dr Manoj Jain. According to the complaint, the alleged fraud began when the complainant and his acquaintances met Jain at a hotel in Pune. Jain allegedly showed them a list of candidates whom he claimed had secured jobs in the postal department.

The accused allegedly told the aspirants that they would have to pay ₹18 lakh each for jobs in the Post Office, FCI, and the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. They were initially asked to pay ₹3 lakh each towards application forms. A total of 26 candidates allegedly paid the initial amount and subsequently received OTPs on their mobile phones, which they were instructed to share with Jain.

The accused later claimed that the candidates had to undergo medical examinations at Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in Delhi and demanded additional money. On January 15, 2025, 24 candidates allegedly travelled to Delhi and paid ₹12 lakh in cash, at ₹50,000 each, for the medical process.

Jain subsequently introduced them to Neeraj Srivastava, who, along with a doctor, allegedly conducted medical examinations of some candidates. The candidates were later introduced to Janak Yadav and Bhagwat Sharan alias Maharaj at The Ashoka hotel in Delhi. Yadav was allegedly presented as an FCI employee, while Sharan was introduced as the mahant of Medha Rishi Ashram in Rudawali, Ayodhya.

The accused allegedly assured the candidates that their recruitment process was underway. However, they continued demanding money, claiming that additional payments would speed up the recruitment process. On February 9, 2025, Sharan allegedly called the complainant to the Oberoi Hotel in Mumbai, where Rajnish Mudgal and Manish Singh were also present.

The candidates subsequently received appointment letters purportedly bearing the signature and stamp of the Chief General Manager, FCI headquarters, confirming their selection as stock inspectors. When they raised doubts about the authenticity of the documents, the accused allegedly assured them that the letters were genuine.

The scam came to light when the candidates realized that the appointment letters were fake and that they had been cheated of their money. The Pimpri-Chinchwad EOW has launched an investigation into the scam and has registered a case against the eight accused persons.

The incident highlights the need for job seekers to be cautious when applying for jobs, especially those that require payment of large sums of money. It also underscores the importance of verifying the authenticity of job offers and recruitment processes.

The scam has caused significant financial loss to the 27 job aspirants, who have lost a total of ₹4.88 crore. The incident is a reminder of the risks associated with fake job scams and the need for authorities to take strict action against those involved in such scams.

In conclusion, the Pune job scam is a serious incident that has caused significant financial loss to the victims. It highlights the need for job seekers to be cautious and for authorities to take strict action against those involved in fake job scams.