Three Arrested in Bhubaneswar for Israel Job Scam

Bhubaneswar: The Commissionerate Police on Monday arrested three individuals in connection with a major job fraud scam in the city, where dozens of job seekers were duped with false promises of employment opportunities in Israel. The accused had allegedly collected amounts ranging from Rs 1.5 to Rs 2 lakh from each aspirant under the guise of foreign job placements.

The fraudulent operation came to light after a fake Nijukti Mela (job fair) was organised at Hotel Raj Inn in the Master Canteen area of Bhubaneswar. Youths from across Odisha were lured into attending the event, during which they were asked to pay Rs 70,000 upfront as a down payment for promised job offers abroad.

Based on a complaint received by the Labour Commission, the Protector of Emigrants, Sunil Kumar Saha from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), filed a report at Kharavel Nagar Police Station on April 20. The police swiftly acted and registered Case No. 178/2025 under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) along with Section 24 of the Emigration Act, 1983.

According to investigators, the accused had circulated fake advertisements on social media and presented forged documents resembling official communications from the Ministry of Labour & Employment. Initial screening fees of Rs 5,000 were collected from candidates, followed by demands for larger sums after issuing fraudulent offer letters.

The accused were found to have no official authorisation from the Ministry of External Affairs or any registered recruitment agency, making the entire operation illegal. Police have confirmed that the arrested persons are residents of Mumbai, with one originally from Odisha’s Ganjam district.

During the operation, police seized several candidate resumes, fake documents, and four mobile phones used in the scam. The prompt police response averted significant financial loss for many job aspirants and prevented further exploitation.

Further investigation is underway to identify additional victims and any other individuals involved in the fraudulent network.