Bhubaneswar: Laxmisagar police arrested a man for allegedly cheating job aspirants of Rs 25.54 lakh by promising them employment and later issuing fake appointment letters, officials said Sunday.
The accused, identified as Basanta Kumar Mallik, 46, was arrested from Langipalli under Baidyanathpur police station limits in Ganjam district. Police said Mallik, promoter of VNX Caretaker Service Pvt Ltd, allegedly carried out the fraud with the help of his associates.
The case was registered at Laxmisagar police station following a written complaint by Ramachandra Sethi.
During the investigation, police found that Mallik had allegedly promised Sethi a supervisor’s job at his organisation and asked him to arrange other candidates for employment.
According to police, Sethi was instructed to collect `4,000 from each candidate toward uniforms and shoes for 500 employees and 20 supervisors.
Hoping to secure jobs for the candidates, Sethi allegedly collected and handed over a total of `25.54 lakh to Mallik and his associates through PhonePe, RTGS and cash in several instalments.
After receiving the money, the accused allegedly issued fake appointment letters and later locked the office in Laxmisagar before going absconding.
Their mobile phones were also found switched off, police said. Acting on information and using technical surveillance, Laxmisagar police conducted a raid at Langipalli and arrested Mallik.
Mallik is also allegedly involved in similar cheating and forgery cases registered at Saheed Nagar and Baidyanathpur police stations, police said.
He was forwarded to court, while efforts are under way to trace his absconding associates.