Mumbai court denies bail to 32-year-old accused of recruitment fraud

Mumbai: A sessions court rejected the anticipatory bail plea of

Chandan Kumar (32), holding that custodial interrogation was needed to investigate his alleged role as the beneficiary of a recruitment fraud in which another person allegedly appeared for examination and interview in his name.

The court said effective questioning may be required to determine Kumar’s role, the identity of the alleged impersonator and whether a wider recruitment arrangement existed. The prosecution case began with a recruitment advertisement issued by New India Assurance Company Ltd. on July 27, 2023, for administrative officers. The recruitment process was entrusted to IBPS, Andheri, for the preliminary and main examinations, while interviews were conducted by a company panel. After the process, IBPS forwarded a list of 450 selected candidates to the company.

Kumar, a resident of Bihar, was selected and appointed as administrative officer at the company’s divisional office on April 1, 2024. On Oct 6, 2025, the company headquarters received an email alleging that Kumar and two other employees had obtained jobs fraudulently by arranging for other persons to appear in the recruitment examination on their behalf.

The company then assigned an inquiry to Swaun Investigation, Delhi, and Fact Forensic Wing Federation, Noida. Their report, submitted on Jan 2, 2026, allegedly found discrepancies in Kumar’s biometric identity. When Kumar was called for biometric verification on Oct 17, 2025, Kumar informed the office that he had to go to his native place because his father was hospitalised. Kumar later appeared on Nov 13, 2025, and biometric impressions were taken.

According to the prosecution, the biometric thumb impression recorded by IBPS during recruitment did not match the impression later obtained from Kumar. The company issued a show-cause notice on Dec 5, 2025. Kumar accepted the notice, later remained absent from duty from Dec 10 and sent a written clarification by post on Dec 12 denying the allegations. Kumar’s services were terminated on Jan 6, 2026.