Man arrested in Pimpri-Chinchwad for fake PCMC appointment letters

The brief

Context

The Pimpri-Chinchwad police crime branch has arrested a 26-year-old man for allegedly running a fake government job racket, issuing forged appointment letters on what looked like official Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) letterhead promising permanent posts in the civic body's water supply department. The letters mimicked genuine municipal correspondence, carrying a fake signature of a department head, an "office order/appointment" date and references to municipal service rules. The accused, a Class 12 dropout who had earlier worked on civic projects on contract, is a repeat fraud offender previously booked in a fake MHADA housing scheme case.

Key facts

• Pratik Rajesh Dhainje, 26, a Class 12 dropout, was arrested by the Pimpri-Chinchwad police crime branch for allegedly issuing forged PCMC appointment letters.
• He allegedly collected Rs 20,000 to Rs 30,000 from each job aspirant, promising permanent posts in the PCMC water supply department.
• Police have traced at least six victims defrauded of over Rs 1.5 lakh, with more victims coming forward.
• Three forged appointment letters have been recovered so far, according to a crime branch officer.
• The forged letters referenced an 'office order/appointment' dated September 2 and asked candidates to report for duty on September 5, with office timings of 11 am to 6 pm.
• The letters carried the PCMC water supply department heading, a fake signature of the department head and citations of municipal employee service rules.
• Dhainje, a resident of Bhosari and originally from Akkalkot in Solapur district, had earlier worked on civic projects on a contract basis and claimed direct access to top PCMC officials.
• In January 2025, a case was registered against him at Bhosari police station for allegedly defrauding people of Rs 22.4 lakh through a fake MHADA low-cost housing scheme.

Timeline

1. January 2025Case registered against Dhainje at Bhosari police station for allegedly defrauding people of Rs 22.4 lakh via a fake MHADA housing scheme.
2. September 2 (as cited in forged letters)Date shown on the forged 'office order/appointment' issued on fake PCMC letterhead.
3. September 5 (as cited in forged letters)Date on which candidates were directed to report for permanent duty at the PCMC water supply department, 11 am to 6 pm.
4. Recent (date not stated in the source)Acting on confidential information, a crime branch team traced Dhainje and took him into custody; investigation into more victims and accomplices under way.

Who has a stake

• Job aspirants who paid Rs 20,000-30,000 each — Lost money and were promised non-existent permanent municipal jobs; at least six identified as victims of over Rs 1.5 lakh in total.
• Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) — Its letterhead, departmental heading and officials' signatures were forged, damaging institutional credibility in recruitment.
• Pimpri-Chinchwad police crime branch — Made the arrest and is investigating whether more job seekers were approached and whether accomplices helped prepare or circulate the documents.
• Rohidas Pawar, Deputy Commissioner of Police (crime) — Leading the official response; said the team traced the accused on confidential information.
• MHADA and earlier housing scheme victims — Allegedly defrauded of Rs 22.4 lakh in a fake low-cost housing scheme in the January 2025 case.

Why it matters

Fake appointment letters exploit the intense demand for secure permanent government jobs and the trust ordinary citizens place in official letterheads and signatures. The case shows how a single repeat offender could move from a fake housing scheme to a fake recruitment racket, using documents that closely resembled real PCMC correspondence. It highlights the need for verifiable, transparent recruitment communication by urban local bodies and for public awareness that municipal jobs are not sold through intermediaries.