Massive Job Scam in Mumbai: Fake IAS Officer Arrested for Defrauding 36 Youths of ₹2.88 Crore

Mumbai (The Uttam Hindu): The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Mumbai Police has busted a major recruitment scam and arrested a conman who posed as an IAS officer to cheat job seekers. The accused, identified as Nilesh Rathod (35) from Barshi in Solapur district, allegedly duped 36 aspirants of ₹2.88 crore by promising them lucrative government jobs.

Rathod falsely introduced himself as a Deputy Secretary in the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) and claimed to have the power to appoint candidates in government departments. Investigations revealed that he lured victims with fake offers for positions such as Inspector and Assistant in the Income Tax Department, demanding hefty sums ranging from ₹4 lakh to ₹6 lakh per candidate.

According to police, the scam came to light after Santosh Kharrpude, a resident of Navi Mumbai, filed a complaint. Rathod had conducted fake interviews in a hotel in Andheri East in May 2023, charging around ₹10 lakh from each aspirant. To make the process appear legitimate, he provided forged appointment letters, arranged fake medical tests in government hospitals, and even issued fabricated police verification documents.

When months passed without official joining dates, victims approached the Income Tax Department—only to discover that no such recruitment drive existed. When questioned, Rathod initially assured refunds but later went incommunicado, prompting the victims to file police complaints.

A case has been registered at Sahar Police Station under sections 318, 319, 336, 338, and 340 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The EOW’s probe also found that Rathod had created multiple fake IDs and claimed he could even secure jobs in the Indian Army through his “Delhi connections.”

Mumbai Police have arrested the accused and produced him before the court. Investigations are underway to identify possible accomplices and other victims of the scam.