A suspected recruitment fraud involving Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) in Jhansi has come to light, with an accused allegedly collecting ₹12.95 lakh from job seekers by promising employment in the public sector company. According to the complaint, fake appointment letters were prepared using forged BHEL letterheads, seals and signatures of officials. An FIR has been registered at Babina police station and efforts are underway to trace the accused.
Police have named Narendra Pratap Patel, a resident of Awas Vikas Colony in the Sipri Bazar area of Jhansi, as an accused in the case. He is alleged to have collected money from Banda resident Sanjay Kumar and other prospective candidates by promising them jobs at BHEL. The company later verified the documents and found that they had not been issued by BHEL.
Suspicious Documents Received on WhatsApp
The alleged fraud came to light on July 26, 2026, when a senior manager in BHEL’s T.N.E. department received several suspicious documents through WhatsApp. The documents had reportedly been sent by Sanjay Kumar, a resident of Banda.
The papers included documents purportedly related to recruitment and appointment at BHEL. When the company authorities examined them, questions were raised about their authenticity. The documents were subsequently checked with the Human Resources department, which confirmed that they had not been issued by the organisation.
Fake Letterheads and Signatures Allegedly Used
According to the complaint, the accused allegedly used replicas of BHEL’s official letterheads and seals to make the appointment documents appear genuine. The documents also carried purportedly forged signatures of company officials.
The alleged use of official-looking documents was intended to convince candidates that their selection had taken place through a legitimate BHEL recruitment process. The company has clarified that the appointment letters and other related documents in question were not issued by it.
BHEL authorities have described the incident as an alleged attempt to damage the organisation’s reputation while exploiting young people seeking employment.
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₹12.95 Lakh Transferred to Accused’s Account
Records examined in the case indicate that Narendra Pratap Patel allegedly received a total of ₹12.95 lakh from Sanjay Kumar and other prospective candidates. Police are now investigating how many people were allegedly approached in the name of BHEL recruitment and whether additional victims may have transferred money.
The financial trail is expected to be an important part of the investigation. Investigators may examine deposits, subsequent transfers and withdrawals from the accused’s bank account to establish where the alleged fraud proceeds went.
Police are also expected to determine whether anyone else assisted the accused in contacting candidates, preparing documents or collecting the money.
FIR Registered Under BNS Sections
Following a complaint from BHEL management, an FIR was registered against the accused at Babina police station under Sections 318, 319, 338, 340 and 67 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
The investigation will focus not only on locating and arresting the accused but also on determining how the forged appointment letters were prepared and circulated. Investigators may examine computers, printers, digital files and other material allegedly used in preparing the documents.
BHEL Recruitment Process Allegedly Used to Gain Trust
Fraudsters involved in fake recruitment scams often exploit the reputation of established government organisations and public sector companies. Official-looking letterheads, seals, signatures and appointment documents can be used to make fraudulent offers appear legitimate.
Candidates may subsequently be asked to pay money in the name of registration, document verification, medical examination, training or other recruitment-related processes.
In the Jhansi case, investigators are examining how the accused allegedly contacted the victims and persuaded them that the recruitment process was genuine. The police are also likely to verify the communications exchanged between the accused and prospective candidates.
Police Investigating Possible Wider Network
The investigation is now expected to cover the accused’s bank accounts, mobile phone records, digital communications and contacts with the alleged victims. Police are also trying to establish whether Narendra Pratap Patel acted alone or whether other individuals were involved in the suspected recruitment racket.
The recovery of forged BHEL documents and examination of the financial trail could help investigators determine the scale of the alleged fraud. Police will also verify whether similar fake appointment letters were issued to other candidates and whether additional victims have yet to approach the authorities.
The case has raised concerns over the misuse of the name and identity of a major public sector company to target job seekers. The investigation will determine the exact role of the accused, the total amount allegedly collected and whether the suspected fraud was part of a larger recruitment network.
