A 26-year-old repeat offender has been arrested in Pimpri-Chinchwad for issuing forged appointment letters for PCMC jobs, swindling lakhs from unsuspecting candidates.

  • Accused Pratik Rajesh Dhainje used forged PCMC letterheads and signatures.
  • Victims were charged between ₹20,000 and ₹30,000 per job.
  • The suspect is a repeat offender previously involved in a ₹22.4 lakh MHADA scam.

In a major crackdown on employment fraud, the Pimpri-Chinchwad Police Crime Branch has arrested 26-year-old Pratik Rajesh Dhainje for allegedly orchestrating a sophisticated scam involving fake government jobs. Dhainje, a Class 12 dropout and a habitual offender, allegedly targeted job seekers by promising permanent positions within the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) water supply department.

The Modus Operandi

The fraud was executed with alarming precision. Dhainje utilized realistic PCMC letterheads, complete with forged signatures of department heads and official-sounding administrative jargon. The forged letters instructed candidates to report for duty on specific dates, citing municipal service regulations to lend an air of authenticity. BozokMedia analysis shows that the criminal leveraged the high demand for stable government employment to manipulate victims into paying upfront 'processing fees'.

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The use of high-quality forged official documents makes these scams particularly dangerous as they bypass the initial skepticism of most victims.

Police have identified at least six victims so far, with the total defrauded amount exceeding ₹1.5 lakh. However, investigators suspect the actual number of victims could be significantly higher as more individuals have come forward to report similar experiences.

A History of Deception

Dhainje's criminal record reveals a pattern of large-scale financial fraud. In January 2025, he was booked at the Bhosari police station for a massive scam involving the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA). In that instance, he allegedly defrauded citizens of ₹22.4 lakh by promising low-cost housing through a fake scheme, using WhatsApp groups to maintain a facade of legitimacy with continuous, albeit false, updates.

Historical Background: The Rise of Employment Scams

Employment fraud has become a growing concern in urban India. As competition for government roles intensifies, scammers exploit the desperation of candidates by mimicking official bureaucratic processes, often utilizing digital tools to create highly convincing counterfeit documents.

Did You Know?: Most government job appointments are processed through centralized online portals; any request for direct cash payments for 'permanent' roles is a major red flag.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question 1: Which department was the scam targeting?
Answer: The scam specifically targeted the PCMC Water Supply Department.

Question 2: What was the estimated loss per victim?
Answer: Each victim was reportedly cheated of approximately ₹20,000 to ₹30,000.