CBI Charges Dismissed Sepoy and Nine in Job Recruitment Scam

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has charged 10 individuals, including a dismissed sepoy, for allegedly deceiving candidates with promises of jobs in the Army, Food Corporation of India (FCI), and Railways. Officials stated that Sepoy Bablu Chauhan, who was stationed at Delhi Cantt and later dismissed, orchestrated the scam.

Chauhan allegedly formed a network with officials to secure recruitments in the Army, Territorial Army, Assam Rifles, FCI, and Eastern Railways in exchange for money. In 2019, he learned about individuals in Gorakhpur—Virendra Kumar, Naik Deepak Thapa, and Raju Yadav—who could arrange jobs in the Territorial Army for Rs 5.5 lakh per candidate.

Recruitment Scam Details

Chauhan spread the word through his contacts—Craftsman Akash and Ward Sahayika Chanchala Devi at Command Hospital Udhampur—who arranged candidates for Rs 7-8 lakh each. The investigation revealed that between 2020 and 2022, he collected over Rs 1.43 crore in his and his wife's accounts from residents of Udhampur, Jammu, Kota, and Jaipur.

He transferred Rs 31 lakh to his accomplices in Gorakhpur either directly or through a woman's account. Chauhan assured candidates of jobs in the Territorial Army but later blamed a Covid-induced recruitment freeze. He then promised them positions in the FCI.

Fake Job Offers

Chauhan took some candidates to his home in Gorakhpur where they met other aspirants from Rajasthan hoping for FCI jobs. These candidates went to FCI Gorakhpur but were denied entry. Chauhan then called Rahul Dravid from Dibhiya Dhobi Tola in Gorakhpur, claiming Dravid's uncle was a DRM in Eastern Railways who could secure jobs under a special quota.

Dravid joined Chauhan and they took candidates from Jammu and Rajasthan to Kolkata. The candidates were housed in Dharamtalla hotels and taken to Kolkata Railways Hospital where unidentified persons collected their medical samples. They received purported medical fitness certificates signed by a Railway Recruitment Board doctor and fake ID cards.

Further Deception

Chauhan told the candidates they had been selected for Railways jobs and would receive joining letters soon. After returning home, he demanded an additional Rs 2.50 lakh per candidate before joining, stating that Group D jobs cost Rs 9 lakh while Group C jobs cost Rs 10 lakh. Some candidates transferred this amount into Dravid's account while others sent it to Chauhan's account.

Chauhan and his accomplices created a fake website rrcb.com and printed fake joining letters for TC and Gateman positions. They even set up a fake office at Fairlie Place near Babughat where these letters were issued. The forged letters included barcodes that linked to the fake website showing the candidates' roll numbers as selected.

Training Institute Scam

The news of these appointments spread quickly in Udhampur, leading more candidates to transfer money into Chauhan's account. The candidates were taken to a fake training institute where they met two women and were asked to pay an additional Rs 2.50 lakh for joining letters during their supposed training.

After 45 days of training, Chauhan took them to Kolkata again and demanded Rs 5 lakh more for TC blazers, badges, and other formalities. The candidates had no money left and promised to pay after receiving their first salaries. One candidate, Pawan Kumar, retrieved his original documents and left Kolkata without securing a job.

The FIR also alleged that Chauhan conned aspirants seeking Army jobs by collecting money from them under false pretenses.