In a troubling case of fraud, a father and son have been charged with defrauding a man of Rs4.75 lakh by promising him a job in the Income Tax Department and issuing a fake appointment letter. The complaint was filed by Gaurav Harish Bhatia (34) at the Dehu Road Police Station, accusing Pravin Eknath Panchal (22) and his father, Eknath Panchal (50), of deceiving him with false job assurances.
According to the complaint, Bhatia, employed by a private contractor in the defense sector, met the Panchals between December 2022 and March 2024. The duo claimed to have influential contacts within the Income Tax Department, assuring Bhatia they could secure him a position.
Trusting their claims, Bhatia made several payments totaling Rs4,78,700 through cash and online transfers. After receiving what appeared to be an official appointment letter, he approached the Income Tax Department, only to discover that the letter was fraudulent.
When Bhatia confronted the Panchals for a refund, they refused, leading him to file a police complaint. A case has since been registered against them, and the investigation is being conducted under the supervision of Assistant Police Inspector Kadam.
This incident follows a recent wave of scams, including a case where over 70 individuals were duped out of ₹68 lakh under the pretense of job opportunities at the Command Hospital in Pune.