₹5.30 crore job scam busted in Bengaluru; family of three among accused
Bengaluru: A major job fraud case involving ₹5.30 crore has come to light in Bengaluru, where a family of three and their associates allegedly cheated more than 20 job aspirants by promising government employment using fake political influence, The New Indian Express reported on Wednesday.
According to police, the accused posed as influential political office-bearers and claimed close connections with ministers, legislators and senior government officials to gain the confidence of victims.
According to a police complaint filed by Sangamesh Rachaiah Vastrada (40), who hails from Vijapura, he was introduced to Shamshad Begum, who claimed to be the general secretary of the Women’s Wing of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee. She introduced her father, Mansoor Ahmed, as a joint secretary of Congress.
The accused allegedly assured the complainant that they could secure Group D and other government jobs in various departments in exchange for money. The complainant introduced them to 14 other candidates.
Police said the accused collected ₹56 lakh in cash, promising jobs in the water resources, health and social welfare departments. Fake examination hall tickets were issued, and candidates were told they would appear for a “special examination” after the regular recruitment tests. Later, the accused claimed the candidates would be accommodated under government backlog vacancies.
Shamshad Begum allegedly produced forged identity cards and documents, claiming she was a member of the Airport Advisory Committee. She also assured victims of jobs in the Railways as ticket collectors and commercial clerks. Seven candidates allegedly paid ₹2.56 crore through online transfers, following which fake appointment letters were emailed to them.
The accused conducted fake training sessions for three months in Kolkata, followed by another three months near Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus in Mumbai. In a separate instance, ₹30 lakh was allegedly collected from another candidate by promising tax assistant’s post in Income Tax Department.
Investigators said Shamshad Begum, her father Mansoor Ahmed, her sister Shamee Begum and their associates collected a total of ₹5.30 crore through cash and online transfers between July and October 2023.
An FIR has been registered against five accused, and further investigation is underway, police said.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Real Madrid fines Valverde and Tchouaméni half a million euros each for altercation
Barcelona (AP): Real Madrid slapped players Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni with half-a-million-euro ($588,000) fines on Friday for their altercation during practice.
The massive fines came a day after the midfielders tussled when the team trained. Valverde said in a post on social media on Thursday that no punches were thrown. But Valverde knocked his head on a table and he suffered a small cut that required a brief hospital visit.
On social media, Valverde initially called it a “meaningless fight” with a teammate and said “everything has been blown out of proportion."
His employers, however, considered it a significant enough breach of team discipline to nail both Valverde and Tchouaméni with fines that bite even the bank account of a top soccer player. The half-a-million euro penalties reflect the reputational damage the club was enduring in a chaotic end to a disappointing season.
In a statement, the 15-time European champion said its disciplinary action was concluded after both players expressed to the club “their complete remorse for what happened and apologized to one another.”
Madrid added they also apologized to their teammates, the coaching staff and club supporters, as well as showing their willingness to accept whatever disciplinary action the club deemed “opportune.”
Tchouaméni was back training with Madrid on Friday, two days before they play at Barcelona in a clasico. Madrid has to win otherwise Barcelona will be crowned La Liga champion.
After being notified of the fine, he posted a public apology to the club and its fans on social media.
“What happened this week in training is unacceptable,” Tchouaméni wrote. "I say this while thinking about the example we are expected to set for young people, whether in football or at school.
“Above all, I am sorry for the image we projected of the club.”
Valverde was not at practice due to the head knock.
Both players are set to play in the World Cup next month, with Tchouaméni playing for France and Valverde for Uruguay.
Chaotic end to a poor season
===================
The run-in between the players, who for seasons have played side by side in Madrid's midfield, came after they argued this week in previous training sessions. But tempers boiled over on Thursday. Spanish media was rife with reports that the players previously disagreed over the club's decision to let coach Xabi Alonso go after just months on the job.
It was not the only altercation involving Madrid players during training this week. Álvaro Carreras confirmed he was in a “minor” incident with a teammate. Spanish media said he and fellow defender Antonio Rüdiger got into a scuffle.
Álvaro Arbeloa, the coach who was promoted from Madrid's reserve team when Alonso was fired in January, will face tough questions on what went wrong inside the changing room when he gives a press conference on Saturday ahead of the clasico at Camp Nou.
Madrid is facing a second consecutive campaign without a major trophy amid rumors in the Spanish media that club president Florentino Pérez is considering bringing back Jose Mourinho to straighten out his underperforming team.
