In a shocking case of job fraud that has left a family devastated, police in Bhubaneswar have arrested the main accused in a racket that cheated a local man of more than ₹25 lakh under the pretext of providing employment.
The case was registered at Laxmisagar police station on the complaint of Ramchandra Sethi. According to the FIR, Basant Kumar Mallik, proprietor of VNX Care Tech Service Private Limited, along with his associates, lured the complainant with the promise of a supervisor’s post in their company.
Not stopping there, the accused instructed Sethi to collect money from others for “uniforms and shoes” of 500 employees and 20 supervisors at the rate of ₹4,000 per person. Believing the offer was genuine, the complainant collected and handed over a total of ₹25.54 lakh through PhonePe, RTGS and cash in multiple instalments.
Once the money was secured, the fraudsters issued fake appointment letters, locked their office in Lakshmisagar and disappeared. Their mobile phones were also switched off.
Laxmisagar police launched a technical investigation and, acting on specific information, conducted a raid in Lanjipalli area under Baidyanathpur police station in Ganjam district. They successfully arrested Basant Kumar Mallik on Sunday. During interrogation, the accused confessed to the crime.
Police revealed that Mallik is a professional fraudster with previous similar cases registered against him at Sahid Nagar and Baidyanathpur police stations. He has been produced in court. Investigation is continuing to track down the remaining absconding associates.
Authorities have advised job seekers to verify companies thoroughly and avoid making any advance payments for uniforms, training or deposits in the name of recruitment.
