Dhanbad Police have arrested a man accused of running a job fraud operation that allegedly collected around ₹56 lakh from at least 15 people by promising government jobs, promotions and appointments at major institutions.
The accused, identified as Pankaj Kumar Gupta, was arrested near the ISM gate in Dhanbad and later sent to judicial custody. Police have also named his brother Yash Kumar Gupta and mother Poonam Gupta in an FIR linked to the case.
Investigators allege that the group approached people with promises of jobs or promotions in organisations and departments including ISM, medical institutions, Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL) and Anganwadi services. Several complaints against Pankaj have surfaced from Dhanbad as well as other parts of Jharkhand.
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₹15 Lakh Complaint Led to Dhanbad FIR
The present investigation followed a complaint filed by Kumari Renu, a resident of Bhutgarhia in the Jharia area. An FIR was registered at Dhanbad police station on September 22 against Pankaj, his brother Yash and their mother Poonam.
Renu alleged that the three took ₹15 lakh from her after promising to secure a promotion for her in the Integrated Child Development Services, or ICDS, department.
According to the complaint, when the promised promotion did not materialise and Renu sought her money back, the accused allegedly misbehaved with her.
Police said Pankaj was working on a contractual basis at SNMMCH when the alleged transaction took place. His brother was reportedly employed as a senior clerk at a school in Dhanbad.
Investigators are also examining allegations that a purported joining letter was used to make the promise appear genuine. Other local reports similarly said some victims were allegedly shown appointment or joining documents that were later found to be fake.
Complaints Point to Wider Job and Land Fraud Allegations
The ₹15 lakh complaint is only one part of the investigation.
Police say complaints linked to Pankaj have surfaced across Dhanbad, Jharia, Bank More and Palamu. Investigators are trying to establish the total number of victims, the money involved and whether other people participated in the alleged operation.
According to Hindustan, one woman allegedly paid ₹6.50 lakh after being promised an appointment as an Assistant Protocol Officer. Another person from Daltonganj allegedly paid ₹5.30 lakh for a job, while a Palamu resident allegedly paid ₹4.50 lakh.
A Bhojpur resident was allegedly charged ₹4.20 lakh for a promised BCCL job. Another complainant allegedly paid ₹7 lakh after being promised employment at ISM, while a Saraidhela resident allegedly lost ₹2.50 lakh over a promised medical college hospital job.
The allegations also extend beyond employment.
Police are examining complaints involving purported land transactions and property disputes. One complainant allegedly paid ₹5 lakh for assistance with a land sale, while another accused Pankaj of using a purportedly fake land agreement in a ₹5 lakh transaction.
Police have not yet established all these allegations in court, and the individual complaints remain under investigation.
Claims of Powerful Connections Allegedly Helped Build Trust
Investigators are also looking at how confidence was allegedly built among potential victims.
According to the police account reported by Hindustan, Pankaj allegedly told two people from Palamu that a senior woman IPS officer in Jharkhand was his paternal aunt. He also allegedly described a former Jharkhand minister as his maternal uncle.
Police allege that references to influential officials and politicians were used to create credibility before money was sought for promised jobs. There is no suggestion in the available reports that the officials themselves were involved in the alleged scheme.
City SP Ritwik Srivastava said the accused had allegedly been involved in such activities for several years and that cases had surfaced outside Dhanbad as well. Police are now examining the complaints and transactions connected with those cases.
Pankaj’s father, Uday Kumar Gupta, has also made allegations against members of his own family. According to local reports, he told police that he had opposed their alleged activities and accused his son of assaulting him.
Those accusations form a separate part of the allegations surrounding the family and have not been independently established.
Police Probe Focuses on Money Trail and Other Suspects
The investigation now extends beyond the single FIR that triggered Pankaj’s arrest.
Police are examining previous complaints, alleged financial transactions, purported appointment documents and the possible role of other people in the network. Some reports say investigators are also connecting cases registered at different police stations to determine whether they form part of the same operation.
The case also highlights a familiar feature of recruitment fraud: victims are often persuaded that an intermediary has privileged access to government officials or can bypass the formal hiring process.
Government and public-sector appointments ordinarily follow prescribed recruitment procedures. A demand for substantial private payment in return for a guaranteed job, promotion or appointment should therefore be treated as a major warning sign.
What this means for you
Never pay an intermediary who claims they can guarantee a government or public-sector job through personal connections. Verify recruitment notices and appointment letters directly with the concerned institution before transferring money or handing over original documents.
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