For Mumbai hotelier Irshad Khan, the hope of seeing his son clear India’s toughest civil services exam turned into a devastating ordeal. Believing he was securing a guaranteed path into the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) ranks, Khan handed over ₹60 lakh to men posing as powerful government officials. Instead, he was defrauded, with his son’s name missing from the results list.
According to Malvani police, the accused, Yakub Ghafoor Shaikh, claimed to be a CID officer. His associate, Vijay Chaudhary — still absconding — pretended to be a senior government official. To win Khan’s trust, the duo staged hotel meetings and even arranged a video call where Chaudhary appeared in uniform, promising influence in Delhi to secure the son’s success.
“Mr. Khan was desperate. His son had been preparing for more than six years and had failed three times in exam. The fraudsters knew exactly how to exploit his vulnerability,” said a senior police official.
Over three months, Khan paid the men in both cash and online transfers. But once the results were declared earlier this year, it became clear the assurances were false. When Khan demanded answers, the accused began avoiding him, exposing the elaborate exam scam.
Investigators later confirmed that neither Shaikh nor Chaudhary had any link to CID or government service. Shaikh has since been arrested and placed in custody, while Chaudhary remains on the run. A case has been registered under sections of the Indian Penal Code for fraud and criminal conspiracy.
“We are investigating the wider network behind this racket. The primary accused is in custody, but our hunt for the absconding associate continues,” said the Senior Inspector of Malvani Police Station.
Experts say the case highlights a worrying pattern of exam scams targeting families’ aspirations for education and government jobs.
“When exam competition is so fierce and the pressure of failure so heavy, criminals weaponize these very dreams,” said former IPS officer and cybercrime expert Triveni Singh. “Fraud today is not just digital; it preys on emotions, ambitions, and hope.”
The case raises a deeper concern: if fraudsters can exploit the UPSC dream, how safe are the hopes of millions of families who invest their trust and life savings in the promise of education and opportunity?
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