PATNA: What began as a promise of steady work on one of Bihar’s most anticipated infrastructure projects ended in quiet humiliation for dozens of young job seekers, many of whom emptied savings and borrowed money for jobs that did not exist.
A Promise of Employment in a Tight Labor Market
In recent weeks, unemployed youths across Patna began sharing what appeared to be a rare opportunity: recruitment for the Patna Metro project. The advertisements, circulating on social media platforms and small recruitment websites, listed a range of posts—data entry operators, station supervisors, guards, fitters and linemen—positions that suggested stable government-linked employment in a city where such prospects are scarce.
The notices carried an air of officialdom. They used professional language, bore logos resembling those of the metro administration and included contact numbers that respondents could call directly. For many applicants, the offer seemed plausible. The Patna Metro has been expanding its workforce as construction advances, and young people accustomed to navigating informal hiring processes saw nothing unusual in reaching out via phone.
What followed, according to multiple victims, was an invitation to attend interviews conducted in rented offices and temporary venues that mimicked the formal settings of public-sector recruitment.
Interviews That Looked and Felt Official
Those who attended the interviews describe a process that was carefully staged. Individuals presenting themselves as metro officials verified documents, asked routine questions and assured candidates that they had been selected. Appointment letters were promised, sometimes even shown in draft form, complete with official-looking letterheads. The professionalism of the exercise was disarming.
“Nothing felt rushed or careless,” said one applicant, who asked not to be named out of fear of stigma. “They checked certificates, spoke politely and explained the next steps like any real recruitment.”
The next steps, however, came with a cost. Candidates were told they needed to pay fees for medical tests, training programs or file processing—expenses framed as standard requirements before formal induction. The amounts varied widely, from a few thousand rupees to sums running into the hundreds of thousands, depending on the post and the promises attached to it. Driven by the hope of securing a long-term job, many paid.
The Silence That Followed
Days passed. Then weeks. There were no joining letters, no official emails confirming appointments, and phone calls went unanswered. When some candidates pressed for clarity, they received evasive responses or were blocked altogether.
Gradually, individuals began comparing notes. Through phone calls and messaging groups, they discovered that dozens of others had attended similar interviews, paid similar fees and received the same assurances. The scale of the deception became clear only after the money—and the recruiters—had vanished.
Police complaints soon followed. Investigators say the alleged fraudsters relied on forged documents, fake email addresses and websites designed to resemble official metro platforms. Even appointment letters, victims allege, carried logos and formatting close enough to the originals to pass casual scrutiny.
Official Clarifications and an Ongoing Investigation
After the complaints surfaced, the Patna Metro administration issued a public clarification. All recruitment, officials said, is conducted exclusively through the organization’s official website and authorized channels. Any demand for money, interviews arranged through private numbers, or communication via WhatsApp or social media, they emphasized, should be treated as fraudulent.
The police have confirmed that an investigation is underway to identify those responsible for circulating the fake advertisements, conducting the interviews and collecting the money. Officers say they are examining call records, bank transfers and digital trails linked to the operation.
