Sri Vijaya Puram, Sept. 10: Two persons have been arrested in connection with an alleged job fraud in which lakhs of rupees were allegedly collected from families on the promise of securing Peon posts for their children with the Military Engineer Services (MES) at Brichgunj.
The two persons arrested have been identified as K. Ayyappa and Shakti Banerjee. They have been named as accused in the case following complaints alleging that they claimed to have contacts who could facilitate appointments in MES.
An FIR has been registered and the allegations are under investigation. The claims made by the complainants have not been established in court.
According to the complaints, money was allegedly collected between October 2025 and January 2026. The two complainants have described a broadly similar pattern — they were allegedly informed about purported vacancies, asked to make payments in instalments and given assurances about medical examinations and other recruitment-related formalities.
The case is particularly significant because the complainants have alleged that purported connections with the Army were invoked while the employment promises were made. There is, however, no allegation that the Indian Army or MES itself was involved in the alleged collection of money or the purported offers of employment.
Families allege payments in lakhs
In one complaint, Sukhbinder Singh alleged that Ayyappa approached him in October 2025 and told him that Banerjee had contacts through whom Peon appointments at MES, Brichgunj, could allegedly be facilitated.
Singh alleged that he was told that Rs 2.20 lakh would be required per candidate and subsequently made a series of payments in connection with jobs allegedly promised for his daughters.
According to Singh’s complaint, Rs 40,000 was allegedly transferred to Ayyappa in October 2025, followed by another Rs 20,000 in December. He further alleged that Ayyappa and Banerjee subsequently collected Rs 50,000 from him at his residence, while another Rs 50,000 was allegedly paid separately to Ayyappa.
Singh also alleged that Rs 20,000 was later handed over to Banerjee at Dollygunj Junction in January 2026. According to his complaint, he paid a total of Rs 2.20 lakh in connection with the alleged promise of employment.
Singh alleged that the promised appointments did not materialise. He further alleged that the accused subsequently indicated that they would not proceed with the purported appointments and would return the money. According to his complaint, the amount was allegedly not refunded.
A second complainant, K. Kumar, has made separate but similar allegations.
Kumar alleged that Ayyappa approached him in October 2025 and claimed that two Peon vacancies were available at MES, Brichgunj. He alleged that Rs 1.50 lakh per candidate was sought in connection with jobs purportedly being offered to his children.
According to Kumar’s complaint, he was initially asked to make payments allegedly connected with medical examinations. Kumar alleged that he paid Rs 30,000 on October 10, another Rs 30,000 on October 25 and Rs 10,000 in December 2025 through digital transactions.
Kumar further alleged that Ayyappa and Banerjee later visited his residence and sought another Rs 80,000 while allegedly assuring him that the recruitment process would be completed within a few days.
Kumar alleged that he paid the amount, but the promised employment did not materialise.
Similar job fraud cases reported
The latest arrests come against the backdrop of other allegations involving money being sought on the promise of government employment in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
In August 2026, Pahargaon Police registered an FIR against three persons following an inquiry into allegations that money had been collected from multiple people on promises of securing government jobs. Reports on the case said complainants had alleged that payments were made through cash, cheques and online transfers, with agreements, promissory notes or undertakings allegedly executed in some instances. Those allegations are separate from the present case and remain subject to investigation.
Andaman and Nicobar Police have also repeatedly cautioned residents against employment-related fraud. In 2024, police issued an advisory over fake job offers allegedly being circulated through SMS, WhatsApp and online advertisements, warning people against making upfront payments or sharing sensitive personal and financial information without verifying the authenticity of the offer.
More recently, police cautioned candidates appearing for recruitment-related physical tests against intermediaries or individuals claiming that they could guarantee selection or manipulate recruitment in exchange for money.
The latest case, however, involves a specific allegation that the prospect of employment with MES at Brichgunj and purported access to Army contacts were used to persuade families to part with money.
Police investigation is expected to examine the alleged financial transactions and communications between the complainants and the accused and establish the circumstances in which the alleged employment promises were made. Investigators may also examine whether any other persons were allegedly approached with similar offers.
There is no allegation in the material available to The Wave Andaman that the Indian Army or the Military Engineer Services was involved in the alleged collection of money. The allegations relate to representations allegedly made by the accused about their purported ability to facilitate employment.
All allegations against K. Ayyappa and Shakti Banerjee remain subject to investigation and judicial scrutiny. Their arrest does not establish guilt, and both accused are presumed innocent unless found guilty by a competent court.
