IT graduate held for duping youths

The southwest district police have arrested a 35-year-old IT graduate, who along with his seven associates, allegedly duped youths of more than Rs 50 lakh, on the pretext of providing them jobs in the Indian Railways.

The southwest district police have arrested a 35-year-old IT graduate, who along with his seven associates, allegedly duped youths of more than Rs 50 lakh, on the pretext of providing them jobs in the Indian Railways.

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The accused, Amar Thakur, who had been evading arrest for a few months, was arrested from Guwahati in Assam. He was hiding at his in-laws' place there.

Amar and his accomplices, who were inspired by a Bollywood film, were carrying out the illegal trade for more than two years. They had even used the fake website of Railway Recruitment Board (RRB), Kolkata, to fleece people.

A few months ago, a case was registered against him at the Bindapur police station.

AK Ojha, DCP (southwest), said, "We received complaints from youths, alleging that they had been cheated by Amar Thakur, Arun Dubey, Chandra Thakur, Rajeev Thakur, Daleep Thakur and Prahalad Thakur, who promised to provide them with jobs in Railways."

"We learnt that Arun Dubey contacted the youths in this regard and took Rs 4 lakh from each of them, after which they were called to Kolkata for medical examination. As per the plan, the youths were then issued fake appointment letters. Kishan, a complainant, in fact had joined as a group 'D' employee at Railway workshop Liluah in Howrah, but was expelled soon. He later found that his appointment was fake," Ojha said.

Vikas and Amit Singh are masterminds of the racket, police said.