Four held for duping youth of Rs 10.5 lakh

Four persons of a gang have been arrested here for allegedly duping an unemployed youth of Rs 10.5 lakh on pretext of getting him job of a government school teacher, police said today.
The gang, comprising nine members, allegedly hacked website of Tribal Development department, Nashik division and claimed on the portal that they provide employment opportunity as teachers in government-run ashram schools in Maharashtra.
Sandeep Patil (26) stated in his complaint that he had applied for post of primary school teacher through the website and was asked to shell out Rs 17 lakh last year in November by the accused, Commissioner of Police, Ravinder Singal told reporters here last evening.

"Patil paid Rs 10.5 lakh in instalments to the accused and was also handed over a 'fake' appointment letter, which carried seal of Tribal Development department and a signature. He later realised of having been cheated and lodged a complaint with police," the senior official said.
There are five more people involved in running the gang that duped gullible youth, and they too have been booked in this connection, Singal said, adding that hunt was on to nab them.
The accused were arrested on Sunday and have been identified as -- Udaynath Singh, who hails from Bhayander in Thane, Hemant Patil (31), Suresh Patil (34), both residents of Dhule, and Tukaram Pawar (26) from Jalgaon.

All of them were produced before local court yesterday that remanded them in police custody till January 12.
Police have also seized a car,laptop, computer, modem, seven mobile handsets, seals, fake documents of Tribal Development department, costing nearlyRs 5.21 lakh.
A case was registered under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and further investigation was on, the official added.