Dhanbad: An alleged racket promising railway jobs has been exposed after a 17-year-old girl was caught posing as a female ticket-checking staff member on the Asansol-Gaya MEMU train. The girl was wearing an official-looking railway uniform and an identity card around her neck. During questioning, however, officials found that she was not a railway employee. Railway police have begun verifying the information provided by the girl as investigators work to determine the extent of the alleged network.
The incident came to light when the Dhanbad female ticket-checking squad was returning to Dhanbad after conducting ticket checks from Asansol. Members of the squad became suspicious of the girl’s activities and questioned her about her identity and duties. The team subsequently informed Commercial Control about the matter. In the presence of the Railway Protection Force, the girl was taken off the train at Dhanbad station and brought in for further questioning.
The identity card recovered from the girl was found to be prima facie fake. It reportedly carried a seal in the name of a senior personnel officer, but did not clearly mention the office or authority that had issued it. No genuine railway appointment document was found with her. Investigators also noted that she was not collecting money from passengers during the ticket checks. She was only checking tickets, raising the possibility that she had been instructed to perform the role as part of an alleged training exercise.
During questioning, the girl reportedly provided information about an alleged racket operating from Sealdah. She said she was from Bankura and lived with her mother. According to her statement, the alleged network had recruited her along with seven other girls by promising them railway-related employment. The girls were allegedly provided with ticket-checking uniforms and fake identity cards before being sent onto trains to check passengers’ tickets.
The girl also reportedly named a man identified as Amit, who allegedly runs an institute in Sealdah. According to her account, Amit had sent her onto the train and told her that checking tickets was part of her training. She said that in February this year, Amit and his associates collected ₹1,000 from each of the eight girls as registration fees. They allegedly demanded another ₹7,000 to ₹8,000 from each girl in the name of training.
The alleged financial demands did not end there. According to the girl’s statement, the girls were also required to pay ₹2,300 every month during the training period. They were allegedly given training in Sealdah and were made to believe that they were undergoing a genuine process linked to railway employment. On June 29, they were reportedly made to appear for what was presented as a railway-related examination.
Investigators are now verifying the information provided during questioning. Railway police are trying to establish who else was involved in the alleged racket besides Amit, where the fake identity cards and uniforms were prepared, and on which trains the girls were sent. Authorities are also examining whether other job seekers were targeted by the same network and how much money may have been collected from them.
The investigation is also focused on determining whether the eight girls were themselves victims of the alleged recruitment fraud or knowingly participated in impersonating railway staff. Their statements and other available evidence are expected to help establish their individual roles and the circumstances in which they were sent onto trains.
So far, there has reportedly been no written complaint from any party in connection with the incident. Railway police are therefore preparing to call the girl’s family and release her on bond after completing the required procedure. However, the information provided by her has raised serious concerns over an alleged recruitment racket operating in the name of railway jobs. The investigation will determine how long the network had been active, how many people were involved and whether more victims were promised railway employment through the same scheme.
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.
