Lucknow: Police in Uttar Pradesh’s Lucknow have registered a criminal case against four people for allegedly cheating a competitive examination aspirant of ₹10 lakh by falsely promising to secure her a government job. Investigators say the accused allegedly claimed to have influential connections within the government and assured the victim that they could arrange her appointment in a public department in return for a substantial payment. When the promised job allegedly failed to materialise and the victim demanded her money back, she claimed she was threatened. Police have now launched an investigation into the financial transactions, bank records and digital evidence linked to the case.
According to the complaint, the victim, Komal Sharma, is a resident of Awas Vikas Colony in Ayodhya and had been staying near Shaktinagar Dhal in the Ghazipur area of Lucknow while preparing for competitive examinations. She alleged that on March 11, she was introduced to Rajkumar Sharma through a relative, Sanjay Sharma. Rajkumar subsequently introduced her to Luv Kumar Tiwari, who, along with Rajkumar, allegedly claimed they had significant influence within government circles and had previously helped several candidates obtain government jobs.
Police said the accused allegedly demanded ₹10 lakh in exchange for arranging the appointment. Trusting their assurances, the complainant allegedly transferred ₹9 lakh on May 2 from her brother’s bank account to the bank account of Anju Devi near Kisan Bazaar in Vibhutikhand. According to the complaint, the remaining ₹1 lakh was to be paid later. Investigators are now examining the relevant bank accounts, transaction records and the movement of funds to determine how the money was used and whether it was routed through additional accounts.
The complainant alleged that despite waiting for the promised appointment, her name did not appear in any selection list. When she contacted the accused seeking a refund, they allegedly delayed repayment and later threatened her. Following her complaint, police conducted a preliminary inquiry and registered a case against Rajkumar Sharma, Luv Kumar Tiwari, Anju Devi and Sanjay Sharma on allegations including cheating and other applicable offences.
Investigators are also examining whether the accused may have used a similar modus operandi to target other government job aspirants. As part of the probe, police are analysing bank records, mobile phones, call detail records, digital communications, financial documents and other electronic evidence. Authorities are attempting to establish whether additional victims or accomplices were involved and whether the alleged fraud extended beyond the complainant.
Police officials said cases involving false promises of government employment continue to surface periodically, with fraudsters often claiming political or bureaucratic influence to gain the confidence of job seekers. Such schemes typically involve assurances of guaranteed appointments in exchange for large sums of money before communication is discontinued or excuses are made once recruitment processes conclude. Investigators are expected to verify all financial transactions and supporting documents to establish the sequence of events and identify the beneficiaries of the funds.
Authorities have urged job aspirants to exercise caution and avoid dealing with individuals claiming they can secure government jobs in exchange for money. Officials emphasised that recruitment to government posts is conducted through prescribed and transparent procedures, and no individual can legitimately guarantee appointment through personal influence or unofficial channels. Police said the investigation is ongoing, and further legal action will depend on the financial, documentary and digital evidence collected during the course of the probe.
