Kanpur: A Kanpur man was allegedly cheated of ₹17.68 lakh on the promise of securing him a job at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), with a fake joining letter allegedly being used to convince him that his appointment had been finalised. Police have registered a case against six people following the complaint.
The complainant, Ayush Prajapati of Koila Nagar, alleged that Nitesh Pandey alias Nikki and his associates promised to arrange an HR Executive position for him at HAL. According to the complaint, the accused collected money from him at different stages but the promised employment did not materialise.
How the Alleged HAL Job Fraud Took Place
According to Ayush’s complaint, Nitesh Pandey allegedly gained his confidence by claiming that his father had worked at HAL and could therefore help arrange a job within the company.
The accused allegedly demanded money under different pretexts, including employment formalities, a service agreement and the joining process. Ayush allegedly paid the amount in several instalments through cheques, UPI transfers and cash.
The total amount mentioned in the FIR is ₹17,68,400.
After receiving the money, the accused allegedly continued telling him that his recruitment process was progressing. When Ayush sought confirmation about his appointment and joining, he allegedly faced repeated delays.
Fake Joining Letter Allegedly Used to Convince Victim
The complainant was subsequently allegedly provided with a joining letter. He later suspected that the document was not genuine after the promised employment failed to materialise.
Ayush then allegedly demanded that the money be returned. According to his complaint, the accused did not repay the amount despite assurances.
Police are now examining the alleged joining letter and other documents to determine their origin and whether they were deliberately created or used to mislead the complainant.
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Six Accused Named in Police Case
The complaint names Nitesh Pandey along with Sudhir Kumar, PK Sharma, Shashank Pandey, VK Saxena and Vikesh Singh.
Ayush has alleged that the six individuals acted together in convincing him that they could arrange the HAL position and subsequently obtaining money from him.
The allegations have not yet been established in court, and the role of each accused will be determined through the police investigation and judicial process.
Dispute Continued After Earlier Complaint
After the money was allegedly not returned, Ayush approached the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister’s public grievance portal.
According to the complaint, both sides were subsequently called to the Koila Nagar police outpost on September 23, 2025. An agreement was reportedly reached in the presence of officials, under which the accused allegedly assured that the money would be returned within the stipulated period.
The complainant, however, alleges that the promised repayment did not take place.
Complaint to Assembly Speaker Followed
Ayush later met Uttar Pradesh Assembly Speaker Satish Mahana and sought assistance in the matter. Following the complaint and police inquiry, Chakeri police registered a case against the six accused under relevant provisions relating to cheating and forgery.
Investigators are examining the circumstances in which the alleged payments were made and the subsequent communications between the complainant and the accused.
Bank Transactions and Documents Under Investigation
Police are examining the payment trail involving the ₹17.68 lakh allegedly paid by Ayush. Cheque records, UPI transactions and other financial documents could help investigators establish when and where the money was transferred.
The alleged joining letter and other recruitment-related documents are also being scrutinised. Investigators may examine the bank accounts, phone numbers and communication records associated with the accused to establish the flow of money and their individual roles.
Police are also expected to determine whether the accused allegedly used similar claims to target other job seekers.
Why Fake Job Offers Can Become Financial Frauds
Employment-related frauds often rely on claims of access to companies, government departments or influential officials to make an offer appear genuine. Fraudsters may demand money for recruitment, documentation, security deposits, training or other supposed employment formalities before providing fabricated appointment or joining documents.
A genuine recruitment process should therefore be independently verified through the employer’s official recruitment channels. Job seekers should be particularly cautious when an individual demands substantial payments in exchange for a guaranteed position or claims that a personal connection can bypass the normal recruitment process.
What Happens Next in the HAL Job Fraud Case?
Chakeri police are continuing to investigate the allegations. Officers are examining financial records, documents and other evidence to establish whether the ₹17.68 lakh was obtained through deception and whether the alleged joining letter was fabricated.
Further legal action will depend on the evidence collected during the investigation. The allegations against the six accused remain subject to the due process of law.
About the author — Ananya Aradhya writes on cybercrime, fraud, scams, cybersecurity, digital safety, and emerging threats. Her work also covers major criminal cases, financial frauds, consumer scams, and stories that highlight risks affecting people in the real and digital world.
