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.

Chandigarh: Punjab Police have arrested a couple accused of allegedly impersonating senior police officials and cheating job seekers by promising government appointments in exchange for money. Investigators allege that the accused collected ₹31.5 lakh from victims by claiming they could arrange positions in the police department, including Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Inspector, and Head Constable posts.

The accused have been identified as Anmol Ratan and his wife Mandeep Kaur. Police said the couple was traced through technical surveillance after allegedly avoiding arrest by frequently changing locations and mobile phone numbers. Both accused have been taken into custody for further questioning.

The allegations in the case are under investigation and have not been proven in court.

Complaint Led to Investigation

According to police, the case began after a complaint was filed on July 17, 2025, by Raveen Kaur, a resident of Baupur Bet village in Shahkot.

The complainant alleged that Anmol Ratan introduced himself as a senior police officer and claimed he could secure government positions for her family members. She alleged that he promised a DSP post for her, an Inspector-level position for her niece Sandeep Kaur, and a Head Constable post for her brother Hardeep Singh.

Believing these claims, the family allegedly paid ₹31.5 lakh. However, the promised appointments were never provided, leading to the registration of a police case.

Financial Trail and Arrests

Police officials said that after the FIR was registered, the accused allegedly went into hiding and attempted to evade investigation by changing their contact details and locations.

During the probe, investigators reportedly traced financial transactions linked to the alleged fraud. Police claimed that ₹3 lakh from the suspected proceeds was transferred into the bank account of Anmol Ratan’s father. He was arrested on June 23, 2026, and later sent to judicial custody.

Further investigation reportedly led to the arrest of Anmol Ratan and Mandeep Kaur on July 8.

Fake Identity Documents Recovered

During interrogation, police alleged that Anmol Ratan admitted to creating fake IPS identity cards and forged official documents to convince victims of his authority.

Investigators are also examining claims that similar frauds may have been carried out against other individuals. Authorities are verifying whether additional victims or associates are connected to the alleged scheme.

Police said they recovered electronic devices, forged identification cards, and other documents from the accused. The seized material has been sent for forensic analysis to determine the full scope of the alleged operation.

Probe into Alleged Use of Fraud Money

Investigators are also tracking how the alleged proceeds were used. Police claim that approximately ₹17 lakh was invested in a ready-made garment business in Shahkot allegedly linked to a relative of the accused.

The investigation has further identified alleged spending of ₹1.10 lakh on a Maruti Ciaz car and around ₹10 lakh towards the purchase of a house in Nakodar. Authorities are examining these transactions as part of the ongoing financial investigation.

Experts Warn Against Recruitment Scams

Cybercrime experts have warned that fraudsters often exploit public trust in government institutions by using fake identities, forged documents, and false promises of official appointments.

Former IPS officer and cybercrime expert Prof. Triveni Singh advised job aspirants to rely only on official recruitment notifications and authorised government channels. He stressed that genuine government appointments are never secured through private payments or personal connections.

Investigation Continues

Punjab Police said the investigation is ongoing to determine whether the accused were involved in a wider recruitment fraud network. A case has been registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and further action will be taken if additional evidence emerges.

The accused remain subject to legal proceedings, and the allegations against them will be decided by the court.