An HR employee at a private firm in Ahmedabad has been booked by police for allegedly orchestrating a fake billing fraud amounting to over ₹22 lakh. The case came to light after internal financial irregularities were detected, prompting a formal complaint and a police investigation into the suspected embezzlement.
Fraud Through Fake Consultancy Invoices
According to the complaint, the accused was responsible for handling recruitment and payments to consultancy agencies. The employee allegedly generated fake consultancy invoices and processed payments for non-existent hires.
Investigators found that funds were routed to multiple bank accounts under the guise of legitimate consultancy transactions. The fraudulent billing included inflated salary figures and payments for candidates who were never recruited.
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Internal Audit Uncovers Financial Irregularities
The fraud surfaced in February 2026 when the company’s accounts department noticed discrepancies in commission-related bills. A deeper internal audit revealed a pattern of suspicious transactions linked to consultancy payments.
Officials stated that the fraudulent activities had reportedly been ongoing since June 2025. During this period, around ₹20.1 lakh was transferred to fake consultancy entities, while approximately ₹2.2 lakh was recorded as tax deductions at source (TDS) to make the transactions appear legitimate.
Employee Absconds After Confrontation
After being confronted with the findings of the internal investigation, the accused employee stopped reporting to work. The company subsequently terminated the individual and proceeded with legal action.
Police have registered a case under charges of cheating, criminal breach of trust, and forgery. Authorities are also examining the role of the consultancy firms that received the payments, as well as any potential accomplices involved in the scheme.
Probe Expands to Possible Network Links
Investigators indicated that the case may not be isolated and are probing whether a broader network of fake consultancies was used to facilitate the fraud. Financial trails and bank account linkages are being scrutinized to identify additional suspects.
The case highlights vulnerabilities in internal financial controls within corporate HR and recruitment processes, particularly where third-party payments are involved.
About the author – Ayesha Aayat is a law student and contributor covering cybercrime, online frauds, and digital safety concerns. Her writing aims to raise awareness about evolving cyber threats and legal responses.
