Mumbai — For Irshad Khan, a Mumbai hotelier, the dream of seeing his son become a civil servant in India’s most prestigious exam turned into a nightmare. Believing he was securing his son’s future in the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Civil Services Examination, Khan handed over ₹60 lakh to men who promised influence and guaranteed success. Instead, he was left defrauded, his son’s name absent from the results list.
The Promise of Influence
According to Malvani police, the accused, Yakub Ghafoor Shaikh, introduced himself as a CID officer. His associate, Vijay Chaudhary — still absconding — posed as a high-ranking government official. To win Khan’s trust, the duo staged meetings in a hotel and even arranged a video call where Chaudhary appeared in police uniform, claiming powerful connections in Delhi that could secure Khan’s son a place in the UPSC ranks.
“Mr. Khan was desperate. His son had been preparing for more than six years and had failed three times. The fraudsters knew exactly how to exploit his vulnerability,” said a senior police official involved in the investigation.
Money Paid, Dreams Shattered
Over three months, Khan transferred ₹60 lakh — in both cash and online payments — to the duo. But when the UPSC results were declared earlier this year, his son’s name was missing. The men began evading him, and it was then that Khan realized he had been trapped in an elaborate fraud.
Following his complaint, police discovered that neither Shaikh nor Chaudhary had any connection to CID or government service. It was a deception built on emotional manipulation and false promises.
The Investigation
Shaikh has been arrested and placed in police custody, while Chaudhary remains on the run. Malvani police have registered a case under sections of the Indian Penal Code related to fraud and criminal conspiracy.
“We are investigating the wider network behind this racket. The primary accused is in custody, but our hunt for the absconding associate continues,” said Senior Inspector of Malvani Police Station.
A Pattern Beyond One Case
Experts warn that such cases reflect a broader trend: scams targeting families’ aspirations for education and government jobs.
“When competition is so fierce and the pressure of failure so heavy, criminals weaponize these very dreams,” said former IPS officer and cybercrime expert Triveni Singh.
“Fraud today is not just digital; it preys on emotions, ambitions, and hope.”
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The case underscores a troubling question: if India’s most respected examination can be hijacked by impostors, how secure are the dreams of millions of families who place their faith — and their savings — in the promise of education and opportunity?
