The Crime Branch of the Jammu and Kashmir Police has filed a chargesheet against two Punjab residents, Bakshish Singh from Amritsar and Amandeep Singh from Jalandhar, for their alleged involvement in a significant fake recruitment scam targeting the Military Engineering Services (MES). This development occurred on Monday in the court of the Additional Special Mobile Magistrate in Samba.
This fraudulent scheme surfaced in early 2023 when the accused reportedly duped two residents of Samba district, tricking them into paying a total of Rs 14 lakh by falsely promising lucrative jobs within the MES.
The incident began when victims approached the police, alleging that Singh and Singh had coerced them into making these payments under the pretense of guaranteed employment. Subsequently, the Crime Branch registered a case under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code to investigate these grave accusations.
Bakshish Singh’s arrest followed extensive efforts by law enforcement in Amritsar. However, co-accused Amandeep Singh remains at large despite several rounds of raids in search of him. The police have initiated proceedings to declare Amandeep a proclaimed offender amidst ongoing attempts to locate him.
The investigation revealed that the two victims received counterfeit appointment letters, which claimed to confirm their employment with MES. The self-styled recruiters misled the victims by sending them to various locations, including Ranchi and Meerut, under the guise of conducting medical examinations and completing document verification.
A Crime Branch spokesperson stated, “Verification from the MES authorities has shown that the appointment letters provided to these individuals were fraudulent and were never issued by the department.”
Moreover, the Special Crime Wing (SCW) gathered substantial evidence linking the accused to the scam. This evidence included a comprehensive review of bank transactions and a forensic examination of the questionable documents used in the fraud.
In light of this ongoing investigation, the Crime Branch has issued a public advisory. The spokesperson urged potential job seekers to stay cautious against fraudulent job rackets. “We advise everyone to verify the legitimacy of any job offers through official government channels,” he added, stressing the importance of due diligence before making financial commitments.
The rise of recruitment scams in India underscores an urgent need for public awareness and protective measures. As cases like this come to light, individuals must remain vigilant and informed to avoid falling prey to such deceptive practices.
