Bhubaneswar, Aug 25: Police on Tuesday arrested five persons, including a woman, for allegedly running a job fraud racket and duping unemployed youths of around Rs 1.5 crore by promising them government jobs and providing fake appointment and joining letters under Baidyanathpur police station limits in Ganjam district.

The accused have been identified as Jagdish Kumar Behera, Banita Behera, Ajit Panda, Sisir Kumar Mishra and Litu Swain. Jagdish and Banita are reportedly husband and wife.

According to police, the accused allegedly approached unemployed youths and lured them with promises of government employment. They collected money from victims through bank transfers and cash and also retained their original educational and other certificates.

After examination dates were announced, the accused allegedly obtained roll numbers from the victims’ admit cards and used the details to prepare forged appointment and joining letters purportedly issued by various government organisations.

The victims reportedly realised they had been cheated when they reached the locations mentioned in the fake documents and found that no such appointments existed. Police said the accused had allegedly targeted job seekers from Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Ganjam.

During raids at locations linked to the accused, police seized fake appointment and joining letters, receipts related to financial transactions, records of online money transfers and nine smartphones.

The five accused were arrested and produced before a court on Tuesday. Police have launched further investigation to determine the full extent of the alleged racket and identify other victims who may have been cheated.

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