The complaint was registered at Kotwali police station after the victim claimed he was promised a canteen contract at the Chhattisgarh Institute of Medical Sciences (SIMS) and jobs in the Enforcement Directorate for two youths. Neither of the promises materialised despite substantial payments allegedly being made over a period of time.

According to police, the complainant, Devendra Thakkar, a resident of Tikerapara associated with the Railway Maharashtra Division, came into contact with Rahul Mishra and his wife Padma Janardan while visiting SIMS Hospital.

During their interactions, Rahul Mishra allegedly introduced himself as an influential ED officer and claimed that he could arrange a canteen contract at SIMS Hospital in Bilaspur. He also reportedly assured the family that he could secure employment in the Enforcement Directorate for the complainant’s son and one of his friends.

Believing the claims, the family allegedly agreed to pay money for the promised arrangements.

Investigators said the accused couple allegedly collected funds through multiple instalments. The payments were reportedly made both through bank transactions and cash. The total amount transferred to the accused is stated to be ₹6.82 lakh.

As months passed without any progress regarding the canteen contract or employment opportunities, the complainant began to suspect that he had been misled.

According to the complaint, repeated inquiries yielded no concrete results. When the promised contract and jobs failed to materialise, Devendra Thakkar allegedly demanded that the money be returned.

The complainant has claimed that after sustained pressure and repeated demands, the accused returned a portion of the amount. However, an outstanding sum of approximately ₹1.62 lakh remains unpaid, according to the allegations made before police.

Realising that he may have been cheated, Thakkar approached Kotwali police and submitted a written complaint detailing the sequence of events and the payments allegedly made to the accused.

Based on the complaint and preliminary verification, police registered a case of cheating against Rahul Mishra and Padma Janardan.

Officials said the investigation is currently focused on examining bank transactions, financial records and communication between the parties. Investigators are also attempting to verify the claims allegedly made by the accused regarding their identity and influence within government agencies.

Police have not indicated whether the accused held any official position or had any connection with the Enforcement Directorate. That aspect is expected to form a key part of the investigation.

The case highlights a recurring pattern of fraud in which individuals allegedly exploit the names of government departments and law enforcement agencies to gain trust and extract money from job seekers and business aspirants.

Authorities have repeatedly advised citizens to verify official claims before making payments for employment opportunities, government contracts or recruitment-related assurances. Recruitment to government organisations and agencies follows prescribed procedures, and officials caution that promises of direct appointments in exchange for money should be treated with suspicion.

The Kotwali police are continuing the investigation and are expected to record additional statements from the complainant and other individuals connected to the case. Further action will depend on the findings of the financial and documentary examination.