Odisha EOW Busts Inter-State Job Scam; Accused Arrested From Andhra

Bhubaneswar: The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Odisha Crime Branch has arrested another suspect in connection with a major inter-state job scam. Identified as Akashpu Veera Chaitanya, the accused was captured in Andhra Pradesh and presented before a designated court in Cuttack on Monday.

According to EOW officials, Chaitanya, along with the mastermind Md. Sanaullah, Sakshi Jain from Hyderabad, Surath Dalai from Balasore, and others, orchestrated a sophisticated scheme targeting job seekers nationwide. They circulated fraudulent advertisements on a bogus website and local newspapers across multiple states, including Odisha. Under the guise of job application fees, they duped candidates, amassing crores of rupees.

A substantial sum of Rs 60 lakh from the ill-gotten gains was traced to Chaitanya’s account. The syndicate operated from Delhi, Mumbai, and Hyderabad, extending its reach across at least six states, including Odisha, Jammu & Kashmir, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh.

Investigations revealed that the scammers established a fictitious organization, “Aided Schools Welfare Society,” soliciting applications for non-teaching positions in Odisha’s aided schools. Positions such as Development Officer, Welfare Officer, School Supervisor, School Clerks, School Attendants, and Watchmen were advertised with specific eligibility criteria and salaries ranging from Rs. 28,000 to Rs. 40,000 per month.

During the probe, it was uncovered that the fraudsters utilized various intermediary bank accounts to obfuscate their trail from law enforcement. Transactions exceeding Rs. 1.7 crore were traced in these accounts, with the majority withdrawn as cash via ATMs to evade detection.