Pune: A recruitment fraud racket that duped unemployed youth by falsely promising jobs as sub-engineers in the Indian Railways has been unearthed in Pune, with one key accused arrested following a joint operation by Army Intelligence (Southern Command) and the Pune Police. The case has exposed the misuse of institutional credentials to lend credibility to a scam that ran for several months and involved financial transactions exceeding ₹19.15 lakh.
The arrested accused has been identified as Swapnil Murlidhar Gaikwad (33), a civilian staff employee with the defence department, currently posted in Ahmedabad. Gaikwad was taken into custody from Gujarat after investigators traced his movements and financial trail. A second accused, Sagar Digambar Patil (35), a resident of Jalgaon district, has also been named in the case and is currently being searched for.
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Promise of Railways jobs used as bait
According to the complaint registered at Yerawada Police Station, the accused targeted families with unemployed members by claiming they could arrange confirmed appointments in the Indian Railways through internal influence. The complainant, Dinesh Shankar Rathod (37), a resident of Ramnagar, Yerawada, alleged that Gaikwad and Patil approached his relatives with assurances of recruitment as sub-engineers, projecting the offer as legitimate and time-bound.
Investigators said Gaikwad allegedly portrayed Patil as a person with strong links inside the Railways, while presenting himself as someone connected to defence establishments, thereby building trust among victims. The accused reportedly demanded money citing application processing, documentation, medical clearance and “final approval” costs.
₹19.15 lakh collected over months
Police records indicate that over a period of several months, the accused collected ₹19.15 lakh from the complainant and his relatives. The payments were made through a combination of cash, bank transfers and UPI transactions, making the money trail partially traceable.
When the promised appointments failed to materialise and repeated deadlines passed without explanation, the accused allegedly began avoiding calls and messages. Suspecting fraud, the complainant approached the police, leading to the registration of a cheating case.
Subsequent investigation revealed that at least three more individuals had been similarly duped using the same modus operandi.
Army Intelligence flags suspicious activity
Sources said the case gained momentum after Army Intelligence flagged suspicious conduct linked to one of its civilian employees. Inputs shared with the Pune Police led to closer scrutiny of Gaikwad’s role, triggering a coordinated inter-agency probe.
Officials said the involvement of a defence department staffer raised serious concerns about misuse of institutional identity to perpetrate civilian frauds, even though no official systems or classified information were compromised.
Money trail, call records under scanner
Police teams are now analysing bank statements, UPI logs, call detail records and digital communication to establish the full extent of the racket. Investigators are also examining whether the accused operated alone or were part of a wider network targeting job aspirants across districts.
Authorities believe more victims may come forward as details of the case emerge. Efforts are underway to identify additional beneficiaries of the scam and to recover the defrauded amount.
Growing concern over job frauds
The case has once again highlighted the persistence of fake recruitment scams preying on unemployed youth amid intense competition for government jobs. Law enforcement officials said fraudsters increasingly use familiar institutions such as the Railways, defence establishments and public sector units to make their claims appear credible.
Police have urged job seekers and families to verify recruitment notices only through official channels and to remain cautious of individuals demanding money in exchange for employment.
Further arrests likely
With one accused in custody and another absconding, investigators said further arrests cannot be ruled out as the probe widens. Charges have been registered under relevant sections related to cheating and criminal breach of trust.
Officials said the joint action sends a strong signal that employment frauds involving misuse of government affiliation will be dealt with strictly, regardless of the accused’s position or background.
The investigation remains ongoing.
About the author — Suvedita Nath is a science student with a growing interest in cybercrime and digital safety. She writes on online activity, cyber threats, and technology-driven risks. Her work focuses on clarity, accuracy, and public awareness.
