MUMBAI, Oct 11: The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Mumbai Police on Saturday arrested a former Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel from Delhi for allegedly running a massive fake government job racket that duped dozens of aspirants across Maharashtra and beyond.
The accused, identified as Nilesh Kashiram Rathod (38), a native of Akola district, allegedly cheated job seekers of over ₹2.88 crore by promising them positions in various state and central government departments, an official said.
According to the EOW, Rathod—who was dismissed from the CISF a few years ago—had been running the fraudulent operation since 2022. Investigators revealed that he and his associates lured young aspirants by offering government jobs in return for hefty payments ranging from ₹5 lakh to ₹10 lakh.
“They even went to the extent of conducting fake medical examinations and issuing counterfeit appointment letters to the candidates to make the recruitment process look genuine,” the official said.
Shockingly, the police found that Rathod had produced two Marathi films using the money he earned through the fake job racket.
So far, around 60 complaints have been received against him from multiple cities, including Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Akola, and Pune, as well as from other states. The EOW has formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the full extent of his operations and identify other possible victims.
The latest complaint that led to Rathod’s arrest was filed by Santosh Kharpude, a resident of Beed, who alleged that he had been duped under the guise of a government job offer.
Following the complaint, the EOW traced Rathod to Dwarka Mor in Delhi, where he was apprehended on Friday night. Investigators also discovered that his wife resides in Delhi, and he had been using multiple addresses to evade arrest.
“The accused has been brought to Mumbai and will be produced before the court. We are investigating whether he had any accomplices or contacts in government departments,” the official added.
Police suspect that Rathod’s network might extend beyond Maharashtra, and that he may have duped more people using similar tactics. The probe to track his associates, bank transactions, and film financing trail is currently underway.
The case underscores the growing menace of fake recruitment scams that prey on job seekers’ aspirations, particularly in smaller towns. The EOW has urged citizens to verify any job offers through official government channels before making any payments.
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