4 days ago
Railway employment ‘fake promise'
Observing that cheating individuals with the promise of jobs in the Indian Railways is a 'widespread fraudulent scheme that has impacted numerous victims', a sessions court rejected the bail plea of a formerly railway employee, booked for cheating to the tune of Rs 20 lakh.
Prashant Lad was booked in a case filed by the Pant Nagar police, which claimed that false promises of jobs for Class C and D category were made by Lad and his father, Shirish, defrauding multiple individuals.
The police claimed both were former railway employees and had used their knowledge in committing the offence. The police opposing his bail told the court that a search of his former residence had led to documents including 600 blank envelopes with printed names, 18 original educational and residential documents, and eight fake appointment letters bearing a fabricated 'Government of India, Ministry of Railway Board' stamp and signature, which were later confirmed as counterfeit by the Railway Recruitment Board.
'I have noted the nature and gravity of the offences, involving a systematic and widespread fraudulent scheme that has impacted numerous victims, as significant. The evidence gathered during the investigation, including the recovery of fake documents and assets purchased with the defrauded funds, strongly implicates the applicant (Lad),' the court said in the order on July 31, which was made available this week.
Lad and other accomplices also have other similar pending cases against them. In one case at Bhandup police station, the police had alleged that Rs 12 lakh were taken by Lad with the promise of employment in the Railways. In that case too an anticipatory bail application filed by him was rejected last week. In a third case, the court granted him bail, observing that his custodial interrogation is not required.
Lad had argued that there is no evidence against him, and the case is false. He also submitted that his further custody was not required as the probe is over.
