Ayurveda job racket, duping youth by promising jobs, busted in UP; 9 arrested

According to police, the mastermind behind the alleged scam operated a company under the name of Bharat Associate and advertised employment opportunities through social media.

In Short

• Workers paid Rs 15,000-30,000 as registration and training fees before being trapped
• Police seized a laptop, mobile phones, forged stamp papers, cash and company documents
• Candidates who sought refunds or refused to recruit others were allegedly assaulted, threatened and confined

Uttar Pradesh Police have busted an alleged fake job recruitment racket in Amroha, arresting nine people accused of luring unemployed youths with promises of jobs selling Ayurvedic products before trapping them in an illegal networking and money circulation scheme. Police also rescued 14 people who were allegedly being confined at the group's premises, while the alleged mastermind remains absconding.

The accused were arrested during a raid after a jobseeker raised an alarm and lodged a complaint to the local police over the alleged scam.

According to police, the accused operated a company under the name of Bharat Associate and advertised employment opportunities through social media and other platforms.

Applicants were allegedly promised jobs in the sale of Ayurvedic products and were asked to pay between Rs 15,000 and Rs 30,000 towards registration and training.

However, instead of being offered employment, they were allegedly pressured into recruiting more people into a networking-based money circulation scheme.

POLICE FIND WORKERS CONFINED, ASSAULTED

Following the arrest, senior police officer Akhilesh Bhadauria said those who refused to bring in recruits or demanded their money back were allegedly assaulted, threatened and kept confined inside the premises.

Police said that the recruiters were prevented from contacting outsiders and were subjected to mental pressure to continue working for the racket.

Investigators also alleged that candidates were forced to sign Rs 100 stamp papers, which could later be misused to deter them from filing complaints.

RAID LEADS TO ARREST AND RESCUE

The case came to light after complainant Sachin, a resident of Moradabad district, approached police alleging that he had been cheated on the pretext of securing a job.

Based on his complaint, police registered an FIR under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Information Technology Act and the Prize Chits and Money Circulation Schemes (Banning) Act, 1978.

Acting on information provided by the complainant, police raided a premises in Ganganagar village and arrested nine accused.

During the operation, officers rescued 14 individuals who were reportedly being held there against their will. Police have since added further charges related to wrongful confinement, extortion and criminal intimidation to the case.

LAPTOP, FORGED DOCUMENT, CASH SEIZED

Police recovered seven mobile phones, a laptop, 20 application forms, forged stamp papers, three registers, two diaries and Rs 39,500 in cash from the premises.

Officials believe the seized documents and electronic devices will help establish the financial trail and the scale of the alleged racket.

MASTERMIND PRESENTLY ON THE RUN

Police said the racket was run in an organised manner to deceive unemployed youths by offering fake jobs and then forcing them into an unlawful network marketing operation.

The accused allegedly shared the money collected from recruits among themselves.

While nine people have been arrested, police said efforts are underway to trace and arrest the alleged mastermind and identify other members of the network. Further investigation is in progress.

- Ends