27-yr-old arrested for running fake job website using WCD Ministry logo

NEW DELHI: A 27-year-old man, suspected to be the mastermind a fake employment racket, has been arrested by New Delhi district police.

Police sources said the incident came to light after the Ministry of Women and Child Development noticed that an unauthorised organisation has set up a false website using the Ministry's logo.

According to the police, a complaint from MK Prabhat, Under Secretary (Women Welfare Section) at the Ministry, was received at Parliament Street police station regarding a fake fundraising website in the name of Ministry.

The fake website, www.wcdo.org.in, reportedly offers jobs for various posts and applicants are requested to pay examination fee online on the website.

However, the Ministry has not announced any such job offers.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi), BK Singh stated that a special team under the supervision of Inspector Ved Prakash, SHO Parliament Street and Ved Bhushan, ACP Parliament Street, was formed.

The team acted swiftly, procured and analysed the details of the website in question.

"The team collected relevant documents and bank statements from ICICI Bank and investigated the details of the account holders, given in the advertisement on the website. On November 18, the team apprehended one Sumit Kumar," said the DCP.

Police said that the accused Kumar disclosed that he had completed his B.Com and LLB from Delhi University, and during his law course he came in touch with one Navita Nagpal and Anup.

In March 2017, they set up an organisation by the name of Women and Child Development Organization, which bore resemblance to the name of Ministry of Women and Child Development and got it registered in the office of Sub-Registrar, Central District.

The website www.wcdo.org.in was also prepared with the help of Ankur, a web designer, and an account was opened in ICICI Bank, Karol Bagh with zero balance.

The logo of the Government of India was also uploaded on the website without any permission from the Ministry, so that the visitors/applicants would believe the organization was genuine.

"To raise funds or earn money, he uploaded an advertisement for recruitment of teachers and other posts for more than 6,715 vacancies and directed applicants to fill the form online only and pay the fee only in the account of the organisation. Around 4,000 applicants submitted applications and paid an amount of Rs 20 lakh approximately," police said.

Cops added that Kumar, the prime accused, has withdrawn Rs 3 lakh from the ICICI bank account.