Police in Uttar Pradesh's Ballia district have cracked down on a fraudulent operation that preyed on the hopes of unemployed youth. Four individuals associated with a fake charitable trust were arrested on Saturday from Jam village under the Kotwali police station limits.
The Arrest and the Accused
The arrests were carried out from the residence of the trust's manager, identified as Dilip Bharti. Alongside him, the police took into custody Sumant Bharti, Shani Bharti, and Nandu Rajbhar. All four were booked under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including sections 316(2), 319(2), 318(4), 338, 336(3), 340(2), 352, 351(3), and 61(2).
According to Kotwal Yogendra Bahadur Singh, the mastermind, Dilip Bharti, had established an entity named 'Hamrahi Charitable Seva Sansthan' in Chhitauni. The modus operandi was straightforward yet cruel: the trust collected significant sums of money from job-seeking youth by promising them employment. In return, they issued fake appointment letters for positions like sweeper and supervisor in various municipal bodies, including Rasra municipality and Sikandarpur council.
How the Scam Unraveled
The scheme began to collapse when the promised jobs never materialized. Frustrated and cheated, several youths approached the trust's office, leading to confrontations and a ruckus. The situation escalated when groups of aggrieved individuals started gathering at the Rasra municipality office, seeking answers about their supposed appointments.
To clarify the matter and dispel the confusion, the municipal chairman and the Executive Officer (EO) of Rasra had to post an official notice, stating that the appointment letters were fraudulent and not issued by the municipality. This prompted many of the victims to file written complaints with the police, leading to the registration of a formal First Information Report (FIR).
Legal Action and Aftermath
Following the complaints, a swift investigation was launched, culminating in the Saturday arrests. ASP (North) Dinesh Kumar Shukla confirmed that legal proceedings have been initiated against the arrested accused. The case highlights a growing trend of fraudsters exploiting the high unemployment rate in the region, using the lure of government and municipal jobs to siphon money from desperate families.
The police action sends a strong message against such organized cheating rackets. Authorities have urged the public to verify job offers directly with the concerned government departments and to be wary of any organization demanding large sums of money for appointments.
