FITE seeks SIT probe into alleged IT job scams

Pune: The Forum for IT Employees (FITE), Maharashtra, has written to senior state govt officials seeking constitution of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate a series of alleged job scams involving some tech firms.

Based on employees’ complaints, the FITE claimed that thousands of freshers were allegedly cheated over the past several months through schemes promising employment in the IT sector in lieu of money. The FITE highlighted the action of seven IT companies in its letter to the senior state govt officials and estimated that about 4,000 freshers were affected by these job scams. FIRs were filed in connection with five of these companies and owners were detained, said the FITE.

“We have barely scratched the surface; around 20-30 such fraudulent companies are taking advantage of jobless freshers. The modus operandi remains the same — the take money from students as deposits and pay no salary for months. We estimate that about 10,000 freshers and job seekers may have been affected by such fraudulent recruitment practices,” said Pavanjit Mane, president, FITE.

A 27-year-old youth from Chandrapur said, “I had taken a loan to pay the company a direct placement fee of Rs1.4 lakh. They had promised a CTC of Rs4 lakh per annum, but I have not got a single rupee from the company. These scams are making life very tough for freshers like me.”

The FITE is seeking a comprehensive SIT investigation into these "organised job scams" to identify all the individuals and entities involved. It wants recovery of funds wherever possible and strict legal action against the perpetrators.

The labour department in Pune has initiated a survey in Hinjewadi IT park to ascertain if the companies involved in the alleged job scams are registered with relevant authorities. Appropriate action would be taken against the companies lacking proper registration, said Nikhil Walke, deputy labour commissioner, Pune, said.

S T Shirke, assistant labour commissioner, Pune, said there was a need to establish stronger monitoring mechanisms for recruitment agencies, consultancies and private IT firms to prevent exploitation of freshers.

At least 500 IT engineers, employees and interns were rendered jobless after a Noida-registered IT company shut down its divisional branch in Hinjewadi without notice on April 22. The Pune labour department has sought details of the IT company from the police. The labour officials found the company premises locked during their visit.