A organised racket that duped job aspirants with the promise of railway recruitment under the sports quota has been busted by Dhanbad Police. Two accused — Sanjeet Kumar of Dhaiya Thakurkulhi and Subodh Kumar of Tapovan Colony, Saraidhela — have been arrested. Investigators said the duo cheated at least six candidates of ₹40.47 lakh by issuing forged appointment letters, fake medical certificates and conducting sham training sessions to build credibility.
Police said the gang primarily targeted candidates from Bihar and southern states, assuring them of confirmed jobs in the Railways through the sports quota. The case surfaced after a complaint was filed on February 12 by a retired serviceman from Krishnagiri, Tamil Nadu, following which a special team was formed and the two accused were apprehended from separate locations.
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Clearly divided roles in a planned operation
The probe revealed a well-structured modus operandi with defined roles. Subodh Kumar was responsible for contacting candidates across states, bringing them to Dhanbad and collecting money in instalments on the pretext of processing their recruitment. Sanjeet Kumar allegedly arranged fake medical fitness certificates through suspected collusion with personnel at a railway hospital and organised bogus “training” at Dhokhra Halt.
According to police, aspirants were made to pay in stages — application processing, medical examination, training and final appointment — creating the impression of a legitimate recruitment pipeline.
Sham training used to gain trust
To convince victims, the accused conducted fake training sessions at Dhokhra Halt. With the help of outsourced workers, candidates were made to perform routine tasks and were told their induction was underway. The simulated work environment and staged procedures reinforced their belief that they had secured railway employment, prompting them to pay further amounts.
Forged documents and assets seized
Police recovered forged railway joining letters, fake medical fitness certificates, Aadhaar cards and educational documents of multiple candidates, an IRCTC stamp, cheque books and three mobile phones from the accused. A Skoda car from Sanjeet and a Creta car from Subodh were also seized, along with ₹50,000 in cash from the latter’s vehicle.
Financial trail and wider network under probe
Investigators are examining bank accounts, mobile data and digital evidence to trace the money trail. Officials suspect the operation may be part of a larger organised network involved in job fraud across states. Efforts are underway to identify additional victims, possible collaborators and the full geographic spread of the racket.
Legal action and advisory to aspirants
Both accused have been booked under sections related to cheating, forgery and criminal conspiracy. Raids are ongoing to nab other suspects linked to the network.
Police have urged job aspirants not to fall prey to middlemen promising government jobs and to rely only on official recruitment channels. The case highlights how organised fraud networks are exploiting unemployed youth through forged documents and staged training programmes, causing significant financial and emotional harm.
About the author – Rehan Khan is a law student and legal journalist with a keen interest in cybercrime, digital fraud, and emerging technology laws. He writes on the intersection of law, cybersecurity, and online safety, focusing on developments that impact individuals and institutions in India.
