Bengaluru: The Central Crime Branch (CCB) police in Bengaluru have registered a First Information Report (FIR) against two individuals accused of cheating several job aspirants by falsely promising employment in the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC). According to police officials, the accused allegedly collected more than ₹12 lakh from candidates by claiming they could secure jobs within the state transport corporation.

The accused have been identified as Rudresh S Nayak, a resident of Chikka Torepalya in Magadi taluk of Ramanagara district, and Shashi Bhushan, a resident of Bengaluru. Police sources said Rudresh is currently absconding, while investigations are underway to trace him and determine the full extent of the alleged fraud.

Complaint filed by job aspirant

The case came to light after a job aspirant named Prasad filed a complaint with the CCB. In his complaint, Prasad stated that he became acquainted with Rudresh during 2022–23 while he was pursuing a law degree.

According to the complaint, Rudresh introduced himself as a senior official associated with the KSRTC recruitment and selection department. He allegedly claimed that he had strong internal contacts within the organisation and could help job seekers secure employment in various positions.

Prasad further alleged that Rudresh went to great lengths to gain the trust of the aspirants. At one point, the accused allegedly swore on his wife and children to convince them that he genuinely had the authority to arrange jobs in KSRTC.

Money collected from multiple aspirants

Police said the accused initially collected ₹26,000 from each aspirant as a processing fee. Over time, the amount demanded increased as the accused allegedly promised specific postings and positions within the transport corporation.

Prasad stated that he eventually transferred ₹12 lakh to a Karnataka Bank account located in Ramanagara, which was reportedly provided by the accused. The money was allegedly paid in instalments over a period of time after repeated assurances that appointment letters would soon be issued.

Investigators believe several other aspirants may also have been cheated in a similar manner. Police are currently trying to identify additional victims who may have transferred money to the accused.

Fake documents and staged meetings

To convince the victims that the recruitment process was genuine, the accused allegedly arranged meetings in Bengaluru. According to the complaint, Rudresh called the aspirants to a hotel in the city where he showed them documents bearing a fake KSRTC letterhead and what appeared to be an official seal.

The documents were allegedly presented as proof that the recruitment process had been approved and that job postings were being finalised.

Rudresh reportedly offered different posts for varying amounts of money. The complaint states that he demanded ₹1 lakh for a posting at the KSRTC depot in Mangaluru and ₹2 lakh for a higher-ranking position within the corporation.

These claims further strengthened the victims’ belief that the accused had genuine connections within the transport department.

Suspicions raised after delays

However, doubts began to emerge when the accused repeatedly failed to provide official appointment letters despite collecting substantial amounts of money.

Prasad and other aspirants reportedly attempted to contact Rudresh several times regarding the status of their jobs. According to the complaint, the accused eventually stopped responding to calls and later switched off his phone.

Growing suspicious, the victims began making independent inquiries about the recruitment process. It was during these inquiries that they allegedly discovered that Rudresh had cheated several others using similar promises of government jobs.

Role of second accused under probe

The victims have also accused Shashi Bhushan of being involved in the initial financial transactions. According to the complaint, Shashi allegedly assisted in facilitating payments and interacted with the aspirants during the early stages of the process.

When the victims later questioned him about Rudresh’s whereabouts, Shashi reportedly misled them and failed to provide clear answers, further raising suspicions about his involvement in the alleged scam.

Police officials said Shashi’s exact role is currently under investigation, and further action will depend on the findings of the probe.

CCB launches investigation

Following the complaint, the CCB registered an FIR against both accused for alleged cheating and fraud. Investigators are now examining bank transactions, phone records, and the fake documents shown to the victims.

Officials are also attempting to track down Rudresh, who is believed to be absconding.

Police suspect that the scam may involve more victims than currently known and have urged anyone who may have been approached by the accused with similar job offers to come forward and report the matter.

Authorities reiterated that recruitment in government organisations such as KSRTC follows a transparent process through official notifications and examinations, and warned job seekers to remain cautious of individuals promising employment in exchange for money.

The investigation into the case is ongoing.