Sambalpur: In a major breakthrough, Burla Police have dismantled a large-scale fake job recruitment racket that duped nearly 2,000 unemployed youths across multiple districts of western Odisha. The fraudsters allegedly collected around ₹2 crore by promising non-existent sanitation (sweeper) jobs in government institutions.
The arrested accused have been identified as Rahul alias Samrat Ray (32) of Badabazar, Sambalpur, and Padmabati alias Padmalaya Tandi (34) of Satupalli village. Their associate, Soumya Sahu of Bhubaneswar, remains absconding.
The case came to light following a complaint lodged by Padma Lochan Gardia on October 23, 2025, after he and several others were defrauded under the pretext of job recruitment.
According to police, the accused had floated a fictitious company named “RMAX Pvt. Ltd.”, claiming it was authorized to recruit sanitation workers for government and municipal bodies. They conducted recruitment meetings across Sambalpur, Bargarh, Sonepur, and Boudh districts, mainly targeting poor and unemployed individuals with promises of a daily wage of ₹400. Each candidate was made to pay ₹12,000 as a registration or processing fee.
To appear legitimate, the fraudsters collected Aadhaar cards, passport-size photographs, and bank documents from the aspirants. However, when the victims demanded appointment letters or official confirmation, the accused gave repeated excuses. Growing suspicious, the complainant approached the Sambalpur Municipal Corporation (SMC), which officially confirmed that no company named “RMAX Pvt. Ltd.” had any authorization or tie-up with the SMC.
Acting on the complaint, the police registered a case under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including provisions for cheating, criminal conspiracy, and breach of trust. Following extensive raids, Burla police arrested the two prime accused and made substantial recoveries.
The seized items include ₹62,01,000 in cash, two mobile phones, a Tata Magic van (OD-15AC-4915) registered in Padmabati Tandi’s name, a Maruti Alto car (OD-15G-4672) registered in Rahul Ray’s name, and numerous Aadhaar cards, bank passbooks, and photographs belonging to victims.
Police estimate the total fraud amount at around ₹2 crore and have launched a manhunt for the third accused, Soumya Sahu, believed to be the key link between the victims and the racket’s operations.
Police have urged other victims who have not yet filed complaints to approach the Burla Police Station and assist in the ongoing investigation.
