Thane: A 56-year-old resident from the Balkum area was allegedly defrauded of Rs 22 lakh in a sophisticated job racket promising high-ranking positions in the Indian Railways. The fraud, which unfolded over a period of nine months between Aug 2024 and May 2025, involved the use of forged govt documents and official insignias to win the victim’s trust.According to the police, the perpetrators reportedly lured the victim with the prospect of securing employment as an ‘Inspector of Post’ and a ‘Rail Supervisor.’ To bolster the deception, they sent several counterfeit appointment letters via digital platforms, complete with the Indian Railways logo and the official State Emblem (Rajmudra). Under the guise of processing fees and various administrative requirements for the job, the victim was pressured into transferring a total of Rs 22 lakh through online banking and money transfer services.The victim eventually realised the scam when the promised jobs never materialised and the individuals involved refused to return the funds. Following a preliminary inquiry, the Kapurbawdi police registered a formal case under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, citing charges related to cheating, forgery and criminal conspiracy. While the investigation is actively ongoing to trace the suspects and recover the swindled amount, no arrests have been made as of yet.
