Who is the absconding accused arrested in Odisha's multi-crore recruitment fraud case?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- The Economic Offences Wing has arrested Gautam Kumar, a fugitive in a job fraud case.
- GRKS advertised fake job opportunities, collecting crores in application fees.
- Countless job seekers were misled, facing disqualification despite taking exams.
- The fraudulent organization siphoned funds through various bank accounts.
- Authorities emphasize the need for vigilance among job seekers.
Bhubaneswar, Dec 15 (NationPress) The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Odisha Police has apprehended a fugitive fraudster, who had been evading capture in a job fraud case since 2023, from New Delhi, reported a senior official on Monday.
The suspect, identified as Gautam Kumar, hailing from Khagaria district in Bihar, was taken into custody in the Rohini area of New Delhi on December 11, 2025. He was subsequently presented before the Metropolitan Magistrate in Rohini, New Delhi, and transported to Odisha on a transit remand.
The investigation was launched after a fraudulent advertisement appeared in a local Odia daily on December 28, 2022, prompting the EOW to register a case in January 2023. The advertisement, published under the banner of “Gramin Rojgar Kalyan Sansthan” (GRKS), sought applications for various positions such as District and Block Coordinator, Computer Operator, Block Surveyor, and more, outlining the necessary educational qualifications and remuneration for the respective roles.
The ad also featured the website www.grks.org, instructing job seekers to apply via this platform by paying application fees of ₹170 for SC and ST candidates and ₹320 for general candidates.
During the investigation, officials uncovered that Dharmapal Singh, who had been arrested earlier in February 2023, serves as the Secretary of Gramin Rojgar Kalyan Sansthan, with its registered office located in New Delhi and additional branches in Mumbai, Bhopal, and Dehradun.
Singh, in conjunction with co-accused Amit Singh, an IT specialist, and Jairam Tiwari, established the website www.grks.org and disseminated advertisements in various regional languages across more than ten states, inviting applications for diverse positions under GRKS.
“Lured by these ads, which closely mimic government job postings, countless unemployed youths nationwide applied for different roles from 2020 onwards, paying the required fees. Although the applicants were allowed to sit for examinations, none received job offers and were systematically disqualified,” explained the EOW official.
The official further revealed that GRKS unlawfully siphoned off application fees amounting to several crores from victimized job applicants. The collected funds were funneled through various bank accounts managed and controlled by the accused.
So far, it has been determined that roughly ₹3.48 crore was transferred to the GRKS account. The apprehended Gautam Kumar was falsely presented as a Skill Developer tasked with training recruits under GRKS. Investigations revealed that no training had ever been conducted, yet he misappropriated ₹69,20,010 from the GRKS account through his companies—Yotta Edutech Pvt Ltd and Guruba Edutech Pvt Ltd—as well as through a trust named Amogh Seva Foundation.