A case of alleged government job fraud has surfaced in Prayagraj, where a youth was reportedly cheated of ₹5 lakh on the promise of appointment as a tubewell operator in the Jal Nigam department. The accused allegedly issued forged appointment papers and a fake identity card, and even made the victim work for several days at a tubewell facility to make the job appear genuine.
Following court directions, George Town police have registered a case and begun examining financial transactions, forged documents and other evidence linked to the alleged scam. Investigators are also probing whether more job seekers may have been targeted through the same method.
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Forged Appointment Letter Sent by Registered Post
According to the complaint, the victim, Rajendra Kumar Patel of Chandpur Sarai Bharat village in the Soraon area, came into contact with Ashok Yadav in 2021. The accused allegedly introduced himself as being associated with Jal Nigam and claimed that recruitment for tubewell operators was underway.
Patel alleged that the accused demanded money in the name of processing expenses and built credibility by creating an official-looking setup. He later visited the Jal Nigam office in Allapur with his father-in-law Shivshankar, where the accused allegedly introduced them to others claiming to be department employees.
The complainant stated that on October 28, 2021, he received a forged appointment letter through registered post. He was also given a fake identity card and other fabricated documents, which made him believe that he had secured a government job.
Victim Made to Work at Tubewell Site
Soon after the alleged appointment process, the accused reportedly collected ₹5 lakh from Patel. Of this, around ₹1.80 lakh was transferred online, while the remaining ₹3.20 lakh was paid in cash.
The victim was then allegedly called to a tubewell facility in Allapur and made to work there for several days. He was reportedly asked to sign an attendance register regularly, creating the impression that he had officially joined duty or was undergoing training.
Suspicion arose after salary payments were delayed and inconsistencies emerged in appointment verification and departmental procedures. Patel later allegedly discovered that the joining letter, identity card and related documents were fake.
Court Order Leads to Police Case
The complainant alleged that the man claiming to be a Jal Nigam officer had no official connection with the department and was instead involved in property dealing. He further claimed that when he demanded his money back, the accused avoided him and later said the amount had already been spent.
After initially failing to get police action, Patel approached the court. On court directions, George Town police have now registered a case under provisions related to cheating, forgery and criminal conspiracy.
Investigators are trying to determine whether the accused used fabricated letterheads, forged seals, fake identity cards and temporary work locations to cheat other unemployed youths. Experts have advised candidates to verify all government recruitment offers only through official department websites, authorised notifications and formal communication channels.
