Pune job racket busted: Maharashtra govt orders suo motu inquiry into IT, PMC fraud
Synopsis
A Pune-based syndicate allegedly forged TCS salary slips, PMC appointment letters, and IT experience certificates to extract ₹5–10 lakh per victim — and was only caught because a Bengaluru firm ran a background check. Now the Maharashtra government is taking suo motu action despite a complainant withdrawing after recovering ₹50 lakh, signalling the racket runs deeper than a single case.
Key Takeaways
A Pune job fraud syndicate allegedly charged ₹5 lakh to ₹10 lakh per victim using fake IT experience certificates , Form-16s , and PMC appointment letters .
Industries Minister Uday Samant ordered a suo motu inquiry by the Home Department on 29 June in the Maharashtra Legislative Council .
Suspects Nilesh Rathod (Akola), Bharatlal Pandey , and Abhinav Mishra were named on the floor of the House.
In one case, a complainant withdrew after recovering ₹50 lakh of a defrauded ₹70 lakh ; the government is proceeding regardless.
The fraud was exposed after a Bengaluru -based firm conducted a background verification of candidates.
The state has directed verification of similar rackets across all police commissionerates in Maharashtra.
A large-scale employment fraud racket operating out of Pune was exposed in the Maharashtra Legislative Council on Monday, 29 June, with the state government ordering a suo motu inquiry after revelations that a syndicate had allegedly been cheating unemployed youths of between ₹5 lakh and ₹10 lakh each through fake appointment letters, forged experience certificates, and fabricated salary slips. Industries Minister Uday Samant assured the House that the Home Department would conduct an impartial investigation and that culprits would face stringent action.
How the Racket Operated
According to Congress MLC Satyajeet Tambe, who raised the issue through a calling attention motion, the fraud network exploited a well-known gap in the IT job market — the reluctance of major companies to hire freshers. Gangs allegedly fabricated fake experience certificates, Form-16s, salary slips, and bank statements bearing the names of prominent firms including TCS, enabling candidates to falsely present themselves as experienced professionals.
The racket also reportedly extended to the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), where forged appointment letters carrying fake signatures and official seals were issued to deceive job-seekers. The fraud came to light after a Bengaluru-based company conducted a background verification of candidates and flagged the discrepancies.
Suspects Named in the House
MLC Bhai Jagtap named three suspects on the floor of the House: Nilesh Rathod of Akola, Bharatlal Pandey, and Abhinav Mishra. Minister Samant confirmed that a thorough investigation would be conducted into the roles of all three individuals. If found guilty, they face punishment of up to 10 years' imprisonment under applicable laws.
Key Details from the Government's Response
Minister Samant noted that the initial PMC-related complaint did not name any specific individuals. In one case, a complainant had withdrawn their grievance after ₹50 lakh of the allegedly defrauded ₹70 lakh was returned. Despite the withdrawal, the government decided to proceed with a suo motu investigation because the same individual's name had surfaced in three separate complaints.
Samant also confirmed that the fake certificate racket was not confined to Pune, and that instructions would be issued to verify similar instances across all police commissionerates in Maharashtra. He assured the House that complainants' identities would be kept strictly confidential through the existing police helpline.
Opposition Flags Police Inaction
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLC Pravin Pote expressed sharp displeasure over the delay in police action, noting that a complaint had been lodged as far back as 30 January — nearly six months prior — without any concrete follow-up. He emphasised that in matters of this gravity, police should have taken suo motu cognisance immediately rather than waiting for legislative pressure.
Tambe also demanded the establishment of a dedicated helpline for youth falling victim to such employment scams, a call the minister did not explicitly reject. With a state-wide verification drive now ordered, the scope of the racket — and the number of victims — may prove far larger than what has surfaced so far.
Point of View
Involving forged TCS documents and PMC seals, does not spring up overnight; it requires a network with time, resources, and apparent impunity. The fact that one victim quietly recovered ₹50 lakh and withdrew their complaint raises a harder question: how many others settled quietly? A suo motu inquiry is the floor, not the ceiling — the real accountability test is whether Maharashtra's police commissionerates surface the full victim count, not just the three named suspects.
NationPress
29 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Pune job racket that was exposed in the Maharashtra Legislative Council?
A syndicate in Pune allegedly defrauded unemployed youths by issuing fake appointment letters for the Pune Municipal Corporation and fabricating IT-sector documents — including experience certificates, salary slips, Form-16s, and bank statements of companies like TCS — and charged between ₹5 lakh and ₹10 lakh per candidate. The racket was exposed after a Bengaluru-based company flagged discrepancies during a background verification.
Who are the suspects named in the Pune job fraud case?
Congress MLC Bhai Jagtap named Nilesh Rathod of Akola, Bharatlal Pandey, and Abhinav Mishra on the floor of the Maharashtra Legislative Council. Industries Minister Uday Samant confirmed that a thorough investigation into all three individuals would be conducted.
What action has the Maharashtra government announced?
Industries Minister Uday Samant ordered a suo motu inquiry by the Home Department, stating that the government would proceed with the investigation even in cases where complaints had been withdrawn. He also directed all police commissionerates across Maharashtra to verify similar instances of fake certificate rackets.
Why was the complaint not acted upon for six months?
BJP MLC Pravin Pote noted that a complaint was lodged on 30 January but no concrete action was taken for nearly six months. He questioned the police department's functioning and stressed that suo motu action should have been initiated immediately given the seriousness of the allegations.
Who raised the issue in the Maharashtra Legislative Council?
Congress MLCs Satyajeet Tambe and Bhai Jagtap raised the matter through a calling attention motion. Tambe demanded a dedicated helpline for youth victims of employment scams, while Jagtap named the three suspects and demanded strict action against them.
