A job fraud racket allegedly operating from the Old High Court complex in Lucknow has been exposed, with police arresting one accused for allegedly cheating unemployed youths of nearly ₹34 lakh by promising peon jobs through a fake recruitment setup.
According to Wazirganj police, the arrested accused has been identified as Mohammad Meraj. Investigators allege that he posed as an advocate and claimed to have links with recruitment processes, convincing candidates that he could arrange government jobs for them. Preliminary findings suggest that seven victims were cheated, while police suspect more complainants may come forward.
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Fake Office Used to Build Credibility
Police said the accused allegedly used a room inside the CSC Building in the Old High Court premises to create the appearance of a genuine recruitment office. Candidates were called to the location, shown documents and made to believe that an official selection process was underway.
Investigators said the setup was designed to win the confidence of job seekers and their families. The use of an office inside a prominent complex allegedly helped the gang present the recruitment process as legitimate.
The accused allegedly collected money from candidates on the assurance that they would be appointed as peons. Police are now examining how the space was used and whether others helped operate the alleged racket.
Training and Fake Appointment Letters Issued
Police inquiries revealed that the accused allegedly organised a 12-day training programme for candidates. During this period, participants were reportedly taught job-related procedures to make the process appear authentic.
After the training, the candidates were allegedly issued forged appointment letters. Authorities believe the combination of training sessions, fabricated documents and claims of official connections helped the accused convince victims that the appointments were genuine.
Doubts arose when the promised jobs did not materialise. Victims began demanding refunds after weeks passed without any official joining process.
Victims Allege Assault After Seeking Refund
According to the complaint, the accused repeatedly assured the victims that their money would be returned and later called them to a designated location under the pretext of settling the matter.
Victims alleged that when they reached the spot, members of the gang assaulted them instead of returning the money. After the incident, they approached police, who detained Meraj from the scene. Several other suspects allegedly escaped and are being traced.
Police said the accused disclosed the names of associates during questioning. Investigators are examining bank accounts, financial transactions, mobile communications and digital records to identify all members of the alleged network and determine whether more candidates were defrauded through similar methods.
