Ballia job scam: Over 4,000 allegedly duped with fake government jobs

More than 4,000 people in Uttar Pradesh’s Ballia district were allegedly duped in a job recruitment scam in which the accused promised government-linked employment through organisations with names designed to resemble official bodies, police said on Thursday.

Police registered a case on Wednesday against 13 named individuals and five unidentified people following a complaint by a villager. The complainant alleged that the accused promised applicants government-related jobs with a monthly salary of Rs 15,000 in exchange for a Rs 40,000 security deposit.

According to the complaint filed by Rajesh Kumar Kannaujiya of Parsupur village, the accused claimed that the government planned to appoint two people in every village. Applicants were allegedly asked to pay the security amount and were subsequently issued appointment letters.

The accused allegedly operated three organisations — Laghu Udyog Vikas Parishad, Ujjwala Shiksha Mission and Audyogik Prashikshan Mahila Vikas Yojana — from a rented premises in Tikhampur.

More than 4,000 people from the area allegedly paid the security deposit after being offered the jobs. They were also reportedly given appointment letters and made to work before the accused allegedly shut the office and fled.

Police have registered a case against the accused under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Station House Officer Vansh Bahadur Singh said an investigation was underway.

Police are now probing the alleged recruitment network, the flow of money collected from applicants and the identities and roles of the accused and other people who may have been involved.

with inputs from PTI