In a major breakthrough, the Kota City Police arrested the alleged mastermind behind an interstate employment scam that reportedly cheated more than 8,500 people of nearly Rs2 crore by offering fake work-from-home jobs.
The accused, identified as Kumar Sanu, who allegedly operated under the alias Deepak Singh, was traced to the eastern state of Bihar after an extensive investigation involving digital surveillance and coordinated search operations by a Special Investigation Team (SIT).
Police said he was produced before a court on Tuesday and remanded to 10 days of police custody. According to Tejaswini Gautam, Superintendent of Police of Kota City, the case began on November 15, 2025, when several victims, including Kuldeep Sharma, lodged a complaint at Anantpura Police Station.
The complainants alleged that the accused had established a firm named Oasis Enterprises and advertised work-from-home opportunities. Applicants were reportedly asked to deposit Rs2,500 as a security fee for tasks such as assembling book kits from home.
Investigators said the scheme mainly targeted unemployed youth and women through newspaper advertisements promising easy home-based work. The accused also allegedly adopted a chain-marketing strategy by offering a Rs500 commission to individuals who recruited new applicants, allowing the scheme to spread rapidly.
Within a short period, the operation reportedly collected nearly Rs2 crore from around 8,500 people. After accumulating the funds, the accused allegedly shut down the company’s office in Subhash Nagar, Kota, and went into hiding.
Given the scale of the fraud, the Kota City Police formed a Special Investigation Team under the supervision of Additional Superintendent of Police Dilip Saini. The investigation was led by Circle Officer Manish Sharma and Anantpura SHO Ramesh Kaviya along with technical staff.
Tracking the accused proved challenging because he allegedly used fake Aadhaar cards and multiple identities to conceal his real identity. The Inspector General of Police for the Kota Range had earlier announced a reward of ₹50,000 for information leading to his arrest.
During the investigation, constable Farsaram analysed digital footprints and technical data, which helped identify the suspect as Kumar Sanu, a resident of Khagaria district in Bihar. Police believe he may have carried out similar frauds in several states, including Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.
Authorities are also examining possible links to scams reported in Darbhanga, Ranchi, Durg, Saharanpur, Bikaner and Indore.
Based on technical inputs, a police team led by inspector Ramesh Kaviya travelled to Bihar and conducted searches from Patna to Bhagalpur while maintaining surveillance. Digital tracking eventually led them to a hotel in Naugachia in Bhagalpur district, where the accused was hiding with his wife.
Police raided the hotel and arrested him, while his wife was allowed to leave with relatives.
During the operation, officials recovered Rs1,88,500 in cash, a red Hyundai Aura car allegedly used in the fraud, and several fake Aadhaar and e-Shram cards.
The accused was brought back to Kota on transit remand and will be questioned further regarding the remaining funds and the possible involvement of additional accomplices. Police said the investigation remains ongoing.
