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.

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.

Kaushambi, Uttar Pradesh: A suspected case of identity fraud has surfaced during the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister’s Mass Marriage Scheme in Kaushambi district after biometric verification reportedly detected a mismatch between the registered groom and the person who appeared at the wedding ceremony.

Following a complaint, police have registered a case against three individuals and launched an investigation. The district administration has cancelled the marriage registration and ordered a detailed inquiry into the alleged irregularity. Officials have clarified that the matter is under investigation and no final conclusions have been drawn so far.

The incident took place in the Saini police station area of Sirathu tehsil during a government-organised mass marriage event, where around 230 couples participated. According to officials, the bride and her originally registered groom had already been enrolled under the scheme, but the groom was reportedly unable to attend the ceremony.

Investigators suspect that another person was brought to the venue in place of the registered groom. The alleged substitution came to light when mandatory biometric fingerprint authentication was conducted during the marriage verification process.

While the bride’s biometric details reportedly matched government records, the fingerprints of the man accompanying her did not correspond with the registered groom’s identity. The mismatch alerted officials, who immediately stopped the process and informed the police.

Police Investigate Alleged Scheme Misuse

The complaint that led to the FIR was filed by Shivam Valmiki, the brother of the young man who allegedly appeared as the substitute groom. According to the complaint, his minor brother, Sunny Valmiki, was allegedly persuaded to participate in the ceremony after being promised a share of the financial benefits linked to the marriage assistance scheme.

The complaint alleges that photographs were taken during the event to make the ceremony appear genuine. The police case names Quraishan Bano, Nagma Bano and Amarjeet Maurya, who are accused of involvement in a possible conspiracy to obtain benefits under the government welfare programme through false representation.

Authorities are currently examining documents, statements and other evidence to determine the exact sequence of events and identify anyone else who may have been involved.

Administration Orders Detailed Verification

District officials said preliminary checks showed that the bride and her intended groom were already registered under the mass marriage programme. However, after the registered groom failed to appear, another individual allegedly participated in his place.

The administration has initiated an internal review to examine whether there were any procedural failures during registration or verification and whether the scheme was deliberately targeted for fraudulent benefit claims.

Experts Highlight Role of Biometric Security

Cybersecurity specialists have pointed out that biometric authentication has become an important tool for protecting government welfare schemes from identity-related fraud.

Former IPS officer and cybercrime expert Prof. Triveni Singh said that fingerprint-based verification can help identify impersonation attempts and strengthen transparency in public assistance programmes. He added that biometric checks should be supported by document verification and additional physical verification measures to reduce the possibility of misuse.

Investigation Continues

Police and administrative authorities have confirmed that the inquiry is ongoing. Officials stated that further legal action will be taken if evidence establishes the involvement of additional individuals.

The allegations remain subject to investigation and court proceedings. Any responsibility for wrongdoing will be determined only after completion of the legal process.