Azamgarh: Police have arrested a man accused of cheating unemployed youth by promising recruitment in paramilitary forces and using forged documents to make the process appear genuine. The accused, identified as Munna Sharma, a resident of Piprakala village in Ballia district, was arrested near the Mohammadabad railway station area in neighbouring Mau district after an investigation into a complaint filed by a job aspirant.
Complaint Led Police To Recruitment Fraud
According to police, the case came to light after Pankaj Yadav, a resident of Andhauri village in the Rani Ki Sarai area, lodged a complaint on May 20. He alleged that he and several other young men were persuaded to pay money on the promise of recruitment into paramilitary forces.
FCRF’s Flagship Cyber Law Certification Returns With a New Four-Week Cohort
Investigators said the accused allegedly prepared forged and fabricated documents to make the recruitment process appear authentic. Police registered a case after the complaint and began examining the activities of the alleged racket.
During the probe, police identified Munna Sharma as the main accused and gathered information about others who may have been linked to the operation. Acting on specific inputs, police arrested him from the Mohammadabad railway station area.
Earlier Assam Case Under Scrutiny
Police said Sharma had allegedly been targeting unemployed youth for a considerable period by assuring them of selection in paramilitary forces. He reportedly used recruitment-related documents and claims of official connections to convince candidates that he could secure government jobs.
Investigators also found that Sharma had earlier faced similar allegations in Assam. Police records show that a case involving forgery, fabricated documents and counterfeit records was registered against him in 2022 at Paltan Bazar Police Station in Kamrup Metro district.
In that case, he was accused of deceiving young aspirants by claiming that he could arrange recruitment into paramilitary forces. After being arrested and spending time in jail, he allegedly resumed similar activities following his release.
Forged Domicile Certificates Used
A key part of the investigation concerns the alleged use of forged Assam domicile certificates. Police said Sharma copied the format and design of Assam residence certificates and used them to create counterfeit documents for candidates.
Investigators claim he believed that recruitment cut-offs in some northeastern states were comparatively lower than in several other regions, making such documents attractive to aspirants seeking an advantage in the selection process.
Police said the accused initially travelled to Assam to study the appearance of official residence certificates. He then allegedly began preparing forged versions using fake seals, fabricated signatures and counterfeit official markings.
Authorities believe the operation may have extended beyond one district. Police are now examining whether other individuals assisted Sharma and whether more candidates or beneficiaries were linked to the alleged racket.
