VARANASI: The Uttar Pradesh Police have uncovered a large-scale fake job and multi-level marketing (MLM) racket that allegedly targeted unemployed youths with false promises of lucrative employment.
In a major operation under the state’s Cyber Vajra campaign, nearly 300 young people were rescued from a training facility in Varanasi, while 19 accused, including the alleged mastermind, were arrested. Investigators believe the network operated across multiple states and collected lakhs of rupees from job seekers through fraudulent registration fees.
Fake Employment Promises Used to Lure Victims
According to the police, the accused operated under the name Mahadev Enterprises, presenting themselves as a legitimate corporate organisation. The group allegedly claimed to be associated with a wellness company and advertised office jobs, private company positions, and agricultural employment with salaries of up to ₹25,000 per month.
Young job seekers from Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and other states were reportedly contacted through various channels and invited to Varanasi for interviews. The office was designed to resemble a professional corporate workplace, making the operation appear authentic and trustworthy to unsuspecting candidates.
Registration Fees and Pyramid Model
After reaching Varanasi, candidates were allegedly informed that they had been selected for employment but were required to deposit registration or joining fees ranging between ₹30,000 and ₹35,000.
Instead of genuine employment, recruits reportedly received low-value kits containing basic household products such as clothes, oil and soap worth only a fraction of the amount they had paid.
Police alleged that the victims were then shifted to a training centre where they underwent motivational sessions aimed at convincing them to recruit additional members into the network. Participants were allegedly instructed to enrol at least three relatives or friends to recover their investment and earn commissions, effectively turning the operation into a pyramid-style recruitment scheme rather than a legitimate business.
Psychological Pressure on Recruits
Investigators said the organisation allegedly used psychological tactics to keep recruits involved. Victims were reportedly shown presentations promoting luxury lifestyles, financial success and rapid career growth to encourage them to remain in the network.
Those unable to recruit new members allegedly faced threats that their salaries would not be paid and their registration money would not be refunded. Police believe many recruits continued participating because they feared losing their investments and hoped to recover their money by bringing more people into the scheme.
Police Rescue Nearly 300 Youths
Acting on intelligence inputs, the Varanasi Police and the Cyber Crime Unit conducted raids at the suspected training centre.
During the operation, authorities rescued around 300 trainees who were allegedly being held under the guise of corporate training. Officials said many of them had travelled from different states after believing the employment offers were genuine.
The rescued individuals are now being questioned to determine the full extent of the network and identify additional victims who may have been affected by the alleged fraud.
Nineteen Accused Arrested
Police arrested 19 people during the operation, including the alleged kingpin identified as Deepak Kumar Shah, a resident of Bihar’s Jamui district.
The remaining accused are reported to belong to Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. Authorities believe each member had a defined role in recruiting candidates, collecting money, conducting training sessions and expanding the fraudulent network.
Investigators have not ruled out additional arrests as the probe continues.
Digital Evidence and Financial Trail
During searches, police seized 20 mobile phones, including several Android devices and a premium smartphone, SIM cards, an ASUS laptop, corporate documents, two four-wheelers and cash.
Officials said the electronic devices contain chats, audio recordings and other digital evidence that could help establish how the racket operated across states.
A preliminary investigation into the group’s financial records revealed transactions worth nearly ₹4 crore credited to linked bank accounts over the past year. Police are now tracing the money trail to identify beneficiaries and determine whether additional associates or shell entities were involved in the operation.
Cyber Fraud Links Under Investigation
Authorities suspect that the racket extended beyond fake recruitment and may also have been connected to cyber fraud activities.
Police said several complaints have already been registered on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP), while additional written complaints have been received from victims. Investigators are examining whether the organisation used illegally collected personal information for further financial crimes.
Officials have urged job seekers to verify employers carefully before paying any registration or joining fees and to report suspicious recruitment offers immediately through official cybercrime channels.
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