Police in Maharashtra have registered a cheating case against a retired Army officer and his associate for allegedly duping a man of ₹11 lakh by falsely promising to secure a government job for his son. Investigators claim the accused staged a fake recruitment process, including a mock interview and forged official documents, before offering an alternative government position when the original promise failed.

Victim Allegedly Lured With Promise of Income Tax Department Job

According to the police complaint, Yusuf Lotan Pinjari, an RTO agent from Ulhasnagar, was searching for a government job opportunity for his commerce graduate son. During this time, a relative introduced him to Bharat Ashok Devre, a resident of Nashik and a retired Army officer who allegedly claimed to have influence in government recruitment.

Police said Devre allegedly assured the family that vacancies linked to the 2023 waiting list in the Income Tax Department were being filled and that he could arrange an appointment. Investigators allege he demanded a total of ₹16 lakh for the recruitment process, requesting an advance payment to begin the procedure.

Believing the assurances, the complainant allegedly paid ₹4 lakh initially. Authorities say additional payments were sought later after the accused claimed that educational certificates had been verified and the selection process had progressed.

Fake Interview and Forged Documents Under Investigation

As per the complaint, Pinjari was later instructed to travel to Aurangabad with another ₹5 lakh. At a hotel, he reportedly met Baban Bhausaheb Gaikwad and another individual who was allegedly introduced as an Income Tax Department employee.

Investigators claim the complainant’s son was made to participate in what appeared to be an official interview, submit educational documents, and receive paperwork purportedly related to a government medical examination. During the meeting, another ₹5 lakh was allegedly handed over to the accused.

Despite these developments, no appointment letter was issued.

Alternative Job Offer Raised Further Suspicion

Police said that when the promised Income Tax Department job failed to materialize, the accused allegedly informed the complainant that they could instead secure employment in the Nashik Health Department.

To support this claim, they reportedly shared a waiting list showing the complainant’s son at serial number 65. The complainant later alleged that the document was fabricated and intended only to create the impression that the recruitment process was ongoing.

After several months without any appointment in either department, Pinjari approached the police, alleging he had been deceived.

Police Probe Financial Trail and Possible Wider Fraud

Based on the complaint, Mahatma Phule Police Station has registered a case against Bharat Ashok Devre and Baban Bhausaheb Gaikwad under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for alleged cheating.

Investigators are examining the financial transactions, verifying the authenticity of the documents presented to the complainant, and reviewing the circumstances surrounding the alleged interview. Police are also exploring whether the accused may have used a similar method to target other job seekers.

Authorities have urged citizens to avoid paying money to anyone claiming they can guarantee government employment and to verify all recruitment announcements through official government channels before making any financial commitments.

Police in Punjab’s Moga district have registered a case against three employees of Annapurna Finance Private Limited for allegedly misappropriating ₹11.70 lakh from the company’s Ajitwal branch. The accused have been booked after an internal inquiry and a preliminary investigation reportedly found evidence supporting allegations of document forgery and financial misconduct.

Internal Audit Reveals Suspicious Transactions

According to police officials, the complaint was filed by Pragat Singh, the company’s Area Manager, who oversees operations of eight branches, including the Ajitwal unit.

The alleged irregularities came to light during routine monitoring and verification of financial records. Following the detection of suspicious transactions, the company conducted an internal review to examine possible discrepancies in branch accounts.

The complaint alleged that employees posted at the Ajitwal branch — identified as Kuldeep Singh, Nachhattar Singh, and Robin — were involved in preparing false documents, creating inaccurate records, and manipulating financial entries.

Investigation Finds Prima Facie Evidence

Due to the seriousness of the allegations, the matter was referred to the Deputy Superintendent of Police (Special Crime) for further examination.

During the inquiry, investigators reviewed banking details, branch records, financial documents, and transaction-related evidence. The preliminary findings reportedly indicated that the allegations had sufficient basis for registration of a criminal case.

Following the inquiry report, Ajitwal Police registered an FIR against the three accused under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) related to cheating, forgery, criminal breach of trust, and other offences.

Police Examine Money Trail and Possible Involvement of Others

Authorities said the investigation is ongoing and teams are examining the movement of the allegedly diverted funds. Police are working to identify the accounts that may have received the money and determine whether additional individuals were involved.

Investigators are also analyzing digital transaction records, banking trails, and company documents to establish the complete nature of the alleged financial irregularities.

The probe will further examine whether gaps in internal controls or monitoring systems were exploited to carry out the suspected fraud. If evidence reveals the involvement of additional persons, further legal action may follow.

Experts Highlight Need for Stronger Internal Controls

Financial security experts have emphasized the importance of strict internal audit procedures, employee verification systems, transaction monitoring, and multi-level approval processes to prevent insider fraud in financial organizations.

They recommend that financial institutions adopt stronger safeguards, including separation of duties, regular independent audits, risk-based monitoring, and improved digital transaction oversight.

Such measures can help detect suspicious activities at an early stage, reduce financial losses, and improve transparency within organizations.

Meanwhile, Moga Police continue their investigation into the alleged embezzlement case, with further action expected based on the evidence collected.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has intensified its investigation into an alleged ₹450 crore bank fraud case by conducting searches across Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, and Punjab, leading to the recovery of property documents valued at around ₹75 crore. The agency suspects that the assets may be linked to proceeds generated from a large-scale loan fraud involving a consortium of banks.

The searches were carried out by the ED’s Lucknow Zonal Office at multiple locations connected to Santosh Overseas Limited, a Bulandshahr-based company under investigation in a money laundering case. The probe originated from allegations raised by a consortium of banks led by IDBI Bank.

Investigation Traces Alleged Fraud Back to Fake Purchase Order

The case dates back to a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) investigation registered in 2020 against Santosh Overseas Limited and its director Sunil Mittal over alleged financial irregularities.

Investigators had accused the company of obtaining packing credit facilities from a seven-bank consortium based on a suspected fake purchase order issued by an associated entity. The company was also alleged to have maintained accounts with other banks outside the lending consortium and routed business proceeds through those accounts without informing the lenders.

According to investigators, this arrangement allegedly prevented banks from accurately assessing the company’s actual financial position and cash flow movements.

The initial CBI case involved allegations of fraud of approximately ₹424 crore, while the ED’s ongoing money laundering investigation has placed the suspected financial irregularities at nearly ₹450 crore after further examination of financial records.

Property Assets Under ED Scanner

During the recent searches, the ED reportedly recovered property-related documents worth about ₹75 crore. The agency stated that these assets were registered in the names of family members of the accused directors and entities allegedly connected with them.

Investigators are now examining whether these properties were purchased using funds allegedly diverted from bank loans. If the assets are established as proceeds of crime, the ED may initiate attachment proceedings under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

Officials are also analyzing ownership structures and financial links to determine the extent of involvement of individuals and entities connected with the suspected transactions.

Digital Evidence and Financial Records Examined

Apart from property documents, the searches resulted in the seizure of approximately ₹10.5 lakh in cash, electronic devices, and financial records. The ED said the seized material will undergo detailed forensic examination to trace the movement of funds between bank accounts, companies, and individuals.

Investigators are expected to compare the recovered data with banking records, corporate filings, and other financial documents already collected during the probe.

The analysis could help authorities identify additional beneficiaries or persons who may have benefited from the alleged diversion of loan funds.

Probe Continues Across Multiple States

The ED has not disclosed the complete list of individuals and entities covered during the searches, citing the ongoing nature of the investigation.

Officials said further action, including additional searches, attachment of suspected proceeds of crime, or legal proceedings against other persons, will depend on findings from the seized documents and digital evidence.

The case highlights the challenges faced by investigative agencies in tracking large-scale financial frauds where funds are allegedly moved through multiple entities before being converted into assets such as land and property.