Pune: A father and son have been charged with defrauding a man of ₹4.75 lakh by promising him a job in the Income Tax Department and issuing a fake appointment letter.

The complainant, Gaurav Harish Bhatia (34), filed a case at the Dehu Road Police Station, accusing Pravin Eknath Panchal (22) and his father, Eknath Panchal (50), of swindling him under the false pretense of securing a government job.

According to the complaint, Bhatia, who works for a private contractor in the defense sector, met the Panchals between December 2022 and March 2024. The accused claimed to have influential contacts in the Income Tax Department and assured Bhatia they could secure him a job.

Trusting their claims, Bhatia made multiple payments, amounting to ₹4,78,700, through both cash and online transfers. After providing him with what appeared to be an official appointment letter, Bhatia went to the Income Tax Department, where he discovered that the letter was fraudulent.

When Bhatia confronted the Panchals and asked for his money back, they refused. Left with no other recourse, Bhatia filed a complaint with the police.

A case of fraud has been registered against the Panchal duo, and the investigation is currently underway under the supervision of Assistant Police Inspector Kadam.

Earlier in August, over 70 individuals were duped under the false promise of job opportunities at the Command Hospital in Wanawadi, Pune. The accused, Vinayak Tukaram Kadale, a 53-year-old former employee of the Command Hospital who had taken VRS (Voluntary Retirement Scheme), was arrested by the Sahakarnagar Police.