Balasore Police have apprehended a fraudster accused of duping numerous job seekers out of more than Rs 2 crore by peddling false promises of employment opportunities.
· According to police he purportedly solicited Rs 3 lakh from each of his victims, totalling over 50 individuals, under the guise of securing positions in banks and various government organizations.
· The modus operandi of the fraudster was as audacious as it was deceitful, as he allegedly masqueraded as a close relative of the Chief Secretary and a trusted confidant of the Collector.
· Arrests were made following complaints lodged by the aggrieved parties, with Soro police taking him into custody.
In a significant breakthrough, authorities in Balasore have apprehended a fraudster accused of duping numerous job seekers out of more than Rs 2 crore by peddling false promises of employment opportunities. The alleged perpetrator, identified as Ramesh Padhi from Soro area, stands accused of orchestrating an elaborate scam that preyed upon the aspirations of unsuspecting youths.
According to police sources, Padhi purportedly solicited Rs 3 lakh from each of his victims, totalling over 50 individuals, under the guise of securing lucrative positions in banks and various government organizations. Moreover, he exploited the desperation of others by falsely guaranteeing employment as petrol pump, kerosene, and liquor dealers.
The modus operandi of the fraudster was as audacious as it was deceitful, as he allegedly masqueraded as a close relative of the Chief Secretary and a trusted confidant of the Collector. Leveraging these fictitious connections, Padhi brandished counterfeit orders from the High Court and fabricated official correspondence to hoodwink his unsuspecting victims.
Victims of the scam recounted tales of financial ruin and shattered dreams, with one individual lamenting, “Ramesh took lakhs of rupees from us by falsely assuring us to provide the ownership of a wine shop. We sold our lands to give him money. However, nothing happened. He even threatened us not to disclose the matter before anybody.”
Arrests were made following complaints lodged by the aggrieved parties, with Soro police taking Padhi into custody. Despite his limited academic qualifications, only reaching the fifth grade, Padhi’s elaborate ruse managed to ensnare vulnerable youths seeking gainful employment.
Balasore Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO), Sasanka Sekhar Beura, affirmed the severity of the situation, stating, “By giving false assurances and showing false official letters, the accused had duped several vulnerable youths. Based on the complaints of the victims, Ramesh has been arrested. Further investigation into the incident is currently underway.”
As authorities delve deeper into the intricacies of the scam, the case serves as a stark reminder of the perils faced by job seekers in navigating a landscape fraught with deception and exploitation.
(With inputs from agencies)
