Akola: A woman allegedly duped a couple of Rs 10.5 lakh on the pretext of securing a permanent clerical position at Dr Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth (PDKV) in Akola. The Old City police have registered an offence for cheating and forgery. The accused woman is absconding, said police.
As per a complaint filed by Shrikant Baburao Sardar (40), a resident of Washim bypass area, his wife came in contact with the accused, Swati Swapnil Jungade (Ingale), through a beauty parlour owner on Gandhi Road. In March 2025, the complainant initially transferred Rs 1.5 lakh to her bank account, followed by multiple transactions at different stages.
The complainant couple later suspected the woman and approached PDKV authorities, only to discover that all documents provided to them were forged. The accused avoided returning the money. Later, her husband reportedly returned around Rs 5.5 lakh, said police.
Old City police station in-charge Pitambar Jadhav said, "We have initiated efforts to trace the accused through mobile tracking, but their phones are currently switched off. Technical analysis and other methods are being used to apprehend them at the earliest."
The incident highlights the growing menace of job frauds where fraudsters exploit people's aspirations for secure government employment. Police have urged citizens to verify job offers through official channels before making any payments.
