Fake Medical College Advertisement: 37-year-old man held for duping job aspirants

The accused, identified as a resident of Chichuguda in Kalahandi district, had posted printed advertisements on walls in various parts of Phulbani, instructing jobseekers to contact him via an instant message. According to the Times of India, police nabbed him in his village. "A mobile phone and some forged advertisement leaflets were seized from his possession," P Swaroop Kissan, inspector of Town police station, Phulbani, said.

Police revealed that the accused runs a small shop in his village and is a repeat offender. He has been arrested twice before for similar cheating cases in Kandhamal district. A case was registered against him at Phulbani Town police station on June 17, 2019, and another at Tumudibandha police station on September 2, 2021.

After being released on bail, he resumed his fraudulent activities. The current case came to light when Akshaya Kumar Sahu, in-charge of the district medical officer (DMO)-cum-superintendent at the district headquarters hospital (DHH), Phulbani, filed a complaint on Wednesday about the false advertisements, reports the Daily. "It was completely false and fabricated," police quoted Sahu as saying.

Police said he was arrested from his village, and during interrogation, he admitted to his crime. He confessed to receiving 5-6 calls daily from job aspirants since posting the advertisements. A case has been registered against him and further investigations are underway.

The State Cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik approved in December 2020 the establishment of a medical college in Phulbani at an investment of Rs 450 crore. The campus will have facilities for 300 seated boys hostel, 150 seated girls hostel, 650 capacity auditorium, 100 seated Resident doctors hostel, quarter for doctors and staff.