Berhampur: Police claimed to have busted a major job scam by arresting a man for allegedly duping many aspirants of over 65 lakh by promising them employment with the Indian Railways. 

The accused, identified as A. Vighneshwar Rao Dora of Kukudakhandi, who is believed to be the kingpin of the racket, was nabbed by cops of Berhampur Sadar on Friday and produced in court thereafter. 

The scam came to light following a police complaint by one of the victims S Krushnachandra Dora of Kansamari village which led to investigation and unravelling of the nexus. 

Initial probe revealed that the accused defrauded job aspirants by claiming connections with senior Railway authorities and asuring secure government jobs in the department. 

As per the complainant, he was introduced to a man posing as a senior official by Vighneshwar and even assured of a job with the Railways. But the job promises did not materialise. When Vigneshwar became unreachable through call and no update was received, he sensed foul play and reached out to the police.

Investigation disclosed that along with him, five other individuals were cheated with Rs 16 lakh which was collected from a small group alone on a similar pretext of providing jobs.

Police sources said Vighneshwar deluded the job aspirants into believing that an acceptable and legalised recruitment drive was in place. This, he did by forging admit cards, counterfeit treasury challans, arranging fake medical tests in Kolkata and mock examinations. 

Following his arrest, cops seized forged railway papers, fake appointment letters and many other incriminating documents. Official authorities informed that Vigneshwar had established an elaborate system which appeared credible enough to gain his targets' trust and had duped over Rs 65 lakh from several individuals. "Police is investigating if the scams were carried out in other places as well," they said.