Pune police have initiated an investigation into an alleged job fraud case involving an IT company based in Aundh. Around 38 employees claim they were coerced into paying significant sums for job placements and subsequent salaries, amounting to a total of ₹75.13 lakh.
FIR Registered Against Creative Web Solutions
An First Information Report (FIR) was filed recently at the Chaturshringi police station against Creative Web Solutions and six individuals, including CEO Ankush Wankhede, Managing Director Tejashree Khatal, and HR official Prasanna Ambekar. The complaint was lodged by Archana Indulkar, 39, who holds a Master of Computer Science degree.
According to Indulkar's complaint, the alleged fraudulent activities occurred between May 5 and September 12. Employees were reportedly asked to pay 30% of their annual salary package to secure their positions. Indulkar and other victims state they paid between ₹1 lakh and ₹3 lakh each.
Company Allegedly Shut Down, Salaries Unpaid
The affected employees further allege that Creative Web Solutions ceased operations approximately four months ago, leaving them without salaries for that period. The total amount collected from the employees through these alleged fraudulent means totals ₹75.13 lakh.
Evidence, including bank transaction records and screenshots, has been provided to the police by the complainants, whose statements have also been recorded as part of the ongoing investigation.
Federation of IT Employees (FITE) Supports Victims
The Federation of Information Technology Employees (FITE) has actively supported the affected individuals, working with police and other authorities. Prashant Pandit, Secretary of FITE Maharashtra, expressed gratitude for the police's support, stating, "The employees have lost their hard-earned money and are seeking justice."
"We have filed an FIR based on the complaint filed by the victim, and search for the accused is underway."
— Chilumula Rajnikanth, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 4)
FITE has urged the police to conduct a thorough investigation, trace all financial transactions, and identify everyone involved in the scam. The organization has also requested protection for the complainants from any potential threats or further exploitation during the investigation.
The case has been registered under Sections 318(4) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.