Jammu, 21-01-2025: In a major crackdown on a high-profile job fraud case, Jammu authorities on Monday attached assets worth over Rs 2.22 crore belonging to a man accused of impersonating a lieutenant colonel in the Indian Army to scam people seeking employment in various central government departments.
The accused, Harpreet Singh, allegedly posed as a high-ranking officer in the Army, claiming he could secure jobs for individuals in the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). His deception targeted vulnerable job seekers who were eager to find employment in these prestigious organizations.
The case came to light when Arun Sharma, a resident of Nagrota, filed a complaint with local authorities, accusing Singh of fraud, cheating, forgery, and causing financial losses running into crores. Following the complaint, investigations were launched, and a First Information Report (FIR) was registered under various sections of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) at Nagrota police station.
Investigators uncovered that Singh had amassed significant sums of money from multiple victims, promising job placements that never materialized. Shockingly, the accused used the fraudulent proceeds to purchase a property in the Channi Bija area of Bahu Tehsil, valued at over Rs 2.22 crore.
An application for the attachment of the property was submitted to the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) in Jammu, and on January 18, the court issued an order to seize the property. The attachment was carried out under the supervision of the Bahu Tehsildar.
In a significant development, the court has also issued a show-cause notice to Harpreet Singh, giving him 14 days to justify why the attached property—believed to have been purchased with the proceeds of crime—should not be auctioned to compensate the victims who fell prey to his fraudulent schemes.