Man Duped Into Paying Rs 60 Lakh To Help Son Clear Civil Services Exam

A Mumbai hotelier was deceived into paying approximately Rs 60 lakh after falling victim to fraudsters who promised to help his son pass the UPSC examination.

According to authorities, Irshad Khan, who operates a hotel in Malvani, became acquainted with Yakub Shaikh, a frequent patron who presented himself as a CID officer with significant connections. The victim's son, Saddam Khan, a commerce graduate, had previously failed the UPSC examination four times and was preparing for his fifth attempt when Yakub Shaikh offered assistance.

Yakub subsequently introduced Irshad to Vijay Chaudhary, who claimed to possess the ability to influence UPSC examination results for financial compensation. To establish credibility, Vijay allegedly impersonated high-ranking officials, including the Delhi Commissioner and Chief Officer of the UPSC during telephone conversations. Convinced by these elaborate deceptions, Irshad transferred approximately Rs 60 lakh through various installments, both in cash and via online payments.

When his son's UPSC results showed no improvement, Irshad confronted the suspects, who provided various excuses for the failure. They even suggested that Saddam's religious background might have contributed to his unsuccessful outcome.

Upon realizing he had been swindled, Irshad filed a formal complaint with the Malvani police station. Authorities have apprehended Yakub Shaikh, who is currently in judicial custody, while Vijay Chaudhary remains at large as investigations continue.