Three men have been arrested in Mumbai for allegedly cheating job seekers with promises of overseas employment, after Pydhonie police recovered 50 Indian passports, electronic devices and documents suspected to be linked to the operation.
The arrests were made after the accused allegedly collected Rs 90,000 from each candidate, took their original passports and biodata, and failed to provide the promised jobs. According to an official Mumbai Police statement reported on Thursday, the suspects allegedly operated from an office of Al Shifa Travels in Masjid Bunder West.
Police said the accused allegedly shut the office and switched off the mobile phones they had been using after collecting money and documents from applicants. A complaint from victims led the Pydhonie Police to register a case under Sections 318(4), 336(2), 336(3), 340(2) and 35 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
Investigators used technical analysis to trace the suspects, who were arrested from different locations. Tabrez Alam Ansari was arrested in Haryana, Mohammed Shamim Ansari was apprehended in Madhubani, Bihar, and Venkatesh Gangayya Chakle was arrested from JJ Dormitory on Tandel Street in Mumbai, police said.
The material recovered during the investigation included 50 Indian passports, six computers or laptops, nine mobile phones, 13 bank cheque books, debit cards, Aadhaar cards, PAN cards, voter identity cards and two fake appointment letters. Police said the investigation had so far identified 10 people who were allegedly cheated.
Authorities suspect that the number of victims could be higher as investigators examine the recovered records and electronic devices. The alleged collection of original identity documents and bank-related materials has also widened the scope of the inquiry beyond the initial complaints.
The police operation was led by Senior Police Inspector Lakshmikant Salunkhe, along with Police Inspector and investigating officer Ajay Kadam, PSI Govind Fad, API Razzak Sheikh and other personnel.
Pydhonie Police have appealed to anyone who may have been similarly cheated by the accused to contact the police station and provide details of their complaint and documents. The investigation is continuing.
