Pune PMC Recruitment Scam: Jejuri Trustee Arrested Over INR 2.75 Crore Job Fraud

A fresh development has emerged in the alleged Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) recruitment scam, with Shivajinagar police arresting Rajendra Babanrao Khedekar, a trustee of the Martand Devasthan in Jejuri. He was arrested on Tuesday and sent to police custody until October 3 as investigators probe allegations that unemployed candidates were cheated after being promised PMC jobs through fake appointment documents.

According to the latest police investigation, more than 14 candidates may have been allegedly duped and nearly ₹2.75 crore collected in the recruitment fraud. The figure is significantly higher than the ₹45 lakh fraud initially reported when the case came to light. KPSC Job Scam: Bengaluru Court Denies Bail to Suspended IAS Officer Gyanendra Gangwar.

How the Alleged PMC Recruitment Scam Worked

Police allege that the accused promised candidates permanent positions in various departments of the Pune Municipal Corporation in exchange for large sums of money. The alleged fraud was carried out using documents designed to make the appointments appear genuine. Investigators have cited fake PMC letterheads, counterfeit seals and forged signatures of senior civic officials.

Candidates were allegedly provided with fake appointment letters, identity cards, service books, medical certificates and salary slips. In some cases, records were allegedly created to give candidates the impression that salaries had been credited to their bank accounts. The alleged transactions took place over a period extending from 2022 into 2025, while police are also examining whether the racket continued or involved additional victims beyond those identified so far.

PMC Employee Among Accused

The case also involves Shivanand Balasaheb Patil, a peon attached to the PMC's education department, and Namita Govardhan Bansode, along with other alleged associates. PMC had earlier suspended Patil after an internal inquiry and subsequently approached Shivajinagar police with an FIR. Police have been investigating the alleged use of municipal documents and official-looking material to convince job seekers that their appointments were genuine. Gujarat: Man Held for Posing as IAF Squadron Leader, Duping Woman of INR 1.95 Lakh Over Defence Job.

The initial complaint involved a Satara-based job aspirant who allegedly paid ₹45 lakh after being promised a junior engineer position in the civic body. Investigators subsequently found indications that several other candidates may have been targeted.

Court Had Earlier Rejected Khedekar's Bail Plea

Khedekar had earlier approached the Pune Sessions Court seeking anticipatory bail. The court rejected his plea in August, citing the seriousness of the allegations and the need for custodial interrogation to investigate the alleged money trail, identify other victims and determine the roles of those involved. Following his arrest on September 29, Khedekar was produced before a court, which granted police custody until October 3. Investigators are now examining the alleged financial transactions and the wider network involved in the recruitment fraud.

Investigation Into Wider Recruitment Fraud Underway

The latest investigation indicates that the alleged fraud may be broader than the initial ₹45 lakh complaint. Police are continuing to verify the number of victims, the total amount allegedly collected and the involvement of other people.

Separately, Pune Municipal Corporation recruitment also came under scrutiny in August after allegations of cheating during the junior engineer recruitment examination. PMC officials said that the issue involved three candidates allegedly using high-tech methods to cheat, rather than a question-paper leak, and an FIR was registered against the candidates and two people allegedly assisting them.

The two matters concern different alleged irregularities: the latest arrest relates to a fake-job recruitment racket, while the junior engineer examination case concerns alleged cheating during the recruitment test.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 30, 2026 05:15 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).