Man held for job scam, more victims surface during probe

Panchkula: More victims have come forward following the interrogation of an Ambala resident who was arrested for allegedly cheating unemployed individuals on the pretext of providing govt jobs.The accused, identified as Prithvi Raj, was initially booked for duping 11 people and placed on a four-day police remand. During questioning, he reportedly disclosed the names of additional victims. Police said the accused first gained the trust of jobseekers by depositing Rs 12,000 in their bank accounts, claiming they had secured employment.However, the victims later realised they had been cheated. Investigators are also coordinating with two govt departments to determine whether any employees were involved in the scam. The economic offences wing (EOW) of Panchkula police has recovered Rs 2.4 lakh so far and expects to recover more by tomorrow. Prithvi Raj was taken into custody after his anticipatory bail plea was rejected by the court.Inspector Jagdish Chander, EOW in-charge, said complainant Nirmal Kumar, a Panchkula resident, approached the DCP alleging that Prithvi Raj promised him jobs in NHAI and CAT as a data entry operator. To appear genuine, the accused even issued a fake appointment letter.Following the complaint, an FIR was registered on Oct 13 at Chandimandir police station under BNS Sections 316(2), 318(4), and 336(3). During interrogation, Prithvi Raj confessed that he and his associates were cheating jobseekers by preparing forged joining letters and collecting large sums of money. Police said the gang duped at least 10 more victims, with five separate cases already registered in Panchkula. A mobile phone recovered from the accused contained WhatsApp chats and fake documents related to the scam. Prithvi Raj said the forged appointment letters were created on a laptop by an accomplice.