Inspector among 3 cops booked in cash-for-job scam

Chandigarh: More than three years after a complaint was lodged against them at the SSP window, an inspector, sub-inspector and a home guard volunteer, all working with UT police, have been booked in a cash-for-job scam. They allegedly duped three Mohali residents of Rs 18 lakh while promising them jobs in Punjab Police.
The accused, identified as inspector Rakesh Kumar, ASI Surjit Singh and home guard volunteer Jaswinder Singh, have been booked under IPC Sections 420 (cheating) and 120B (punishment of criminal conspiracy) at Sector 19 police station.

Rakesh was recently appointed as an acting SHO of Sector 26 police station, but was removed from the post the very next day after the UT DGP took note of the complaint filed against him. A DSP-level officer had been sitting on Rakesh’s file for nine months, it was learnt.
According to the details in the FIR, Jaspreet Singh, a resident of Chappar Chidi Kalan village in Mohali, and his friends Gagandeep Singh and Lakhwinder Singh were searching for jobs, when they met home guard volunteer Jaswinder Singh in 2019. Jaswinder introduced the trio to the inspector. Rakesh, Surjit and Jaswinder were posted in Sector 19 police station at that time.
The inspector allegedly took Rs 6 lakh each from the three job aspirants. When Rakesh failed to keep his promise, the complainants sought return of their money. But the inspector allegedly threatened to frame them in a false case.
In 2021, Jaspreet filed a complaint against the accused at SSP public window.