17.68 Lakh HAL Job Fraud: Kanpur Man Scammed with Fake Joining Letter

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A Kanpur resident lost ₹17.68 lakh after being scammed through a fake job offer at HAL.

Incident Overview

A Kanpur resident reportedly lost ₹17.68 lakh after being promised a position as an HR Executive at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) through a fraudulent scheme involving a forged joining letter. Authorities are investigating the case, which involves multiple suspects and allegations of staged employment processes.

Suspects and Allegations

The victim, Ayush Prajapati from Koila Nagar, claimed that Nitesh Pandey, also known as Nikki, and five others deceived him by asserting they could secure a job at HAL. According to the complaint, the accused collected funds in installments under various pretenses, including formalities, service agreements, and recruitment procedures. Payments were made via cheques, UPI transfers, and cash, totaling ₹17,68,400.

According to the complaint, the accused collected funds in installments under various pretenses, including formalities, service agreements, and recruitment procedures. Payments were made via cheques, UPI transfers, and cash, totaling ₹17,68,400.

Investigation and Legal Actions

The accused allegedly provided a joining letter to the victim, which later raised suspicions after the promised employment failed to materialize. The complainant reportedly demanded a refund, but the accused allegedly refused despite prior assurances. Law enforcement is currently analyzing the document and other evidence to determine its authenticity and whether it was intentionally fabricated. Six individuals have been named in the police case, including Sudhir Kumar, PK Sharma, Shashank Pandey, VK Saxena, and Vikesh Singh.

The complaint alleges these parties collaborated to mislead the victim about securing employment at HAL.

Victim’s Escalation and Legal Proceedings

No court rulings have been made, and the roles of each suspect will be determined through judicial proceedings. Following the failure to repay the funds, the victim escalated the matter to the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister’s public grievance portal. A meeting was held at the Koila Nagar police outpost in September 2025, where an agreement reportedly outlined a repayment timeline. The complainant claims this arrangement was not fulfilled. The victim later approached the Uttar Pradesh Assembly Speaker, Satish Mahana, for intervention.

Chakeri Police Investigation

Chakeri police investigators are examining financial records, including cheque details, UPI transactions, and bank statements, to trace the movement of funds. Additional scrutiny is being applied to the accused’s communication channels and potential links to similar frauds targeting job seekers.

Chakeri police continue to investigate the case, focusing on financial trails and documentary evidence to confirm whether the funds were obtained through deceit.

Advice to Job Seekers

Employment fraud schemes often exploit claims of access to corporate or governmental networks to validate offers. Perpetrators typically demand payments for recruitment, documentation, or training before providing fabricated employment documents. Legitimate hiring processes should be verified through official employer channels. Job seekers are advised to exercise caution when encountering requests for large sums in exchange for guaranteed positions or claims of bypassing standard procedures.

Employment fraud schemes often exploit claims of access to corporate or governmental networks to validate offers.