Pune: A 36 year old dentist was cheated of Rs 1.6 crore by four people, including one woman and three men, on the pretext of getting him a government job in the ministry of micro, small and medium enterprises in Mumbai.
The four accused were booked based on a complaint filed by the doctor with the Sangvi police station on November 26.
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The police stated that the incident took place between September 4, 2020, and November 26, when the doctor, who runs a dental clinic in the Navi Sangvi area got in touch with the accused through his relatives.
The police further stated that the doctor was in contact with the accused through a widely-used online messaging service, who promised him a job at the micro, small, medium enterprises department which they claimed was in the Mantralaya. One of the accused also claimed to be working as a department head at Mantralaya.
The investigating officer Dilip Jadhav, assistant police inspector of Sangvi police station told TOI, "The complainant said one of the accused had told him that he works in the Mantralay, and he will give him a job in the ministry. For this purpose, he had paid the amount through multiple transactions, including through cheques."
Speaking to HT, the officer Jadhav stated, "The transaction allegedly happened in cash within two-three days last year (2020). The doctor was approached by these people and then they got talking. It has been almost one year since then. We will see if Information Technology Act, 2000 needs to be added."
The accused used documents with the Government of Indian emblem or stamp to lure the doctor. However, a few months after the doctor paid an amount of Rs 1.6 crore, the accused slowly began to cease the communication with the doctor.
The officer added that they are verifying the information given by the complainant in his statement. He stated, "We have sought details from the Mantralay to check the authenticity of the person. At this juncture, we are in the process of getting necessary information related to the fraud to establish further links in the case."
An FIR was filed by the doctor in connection with this incident at the Sangvi police station on November 26 against the fraudsters, under sections 406, 420, 467, 468, 469, 470, 471, 472, 473, 504, 506, 120(b), and 34 of Indian Penal Code (IPC).
The police said that the government follows a proper procedure for recruitment to each posting. They said that people should make themselves aware of the information and procedure followed by the government before giving money like this to acquire government jobs.
Meanwhile a police officer said, "Many fraudsters take advantage of people's desperation to get government jobs and take money from them. We register at least 20 such cases in a year across all police stations under the jurisdiction of the Pimpri Chinchwad police commissionerate."
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