Ludhiana: Family booked for duping trader of ₹89 lakh in fake DSP job scam

A new Shimlapuri family has been booked for defrauding a city car dealer of nearly ₹89 lakh by falsely promising to secure a deputy superintendent of police (DSP) post for his son under the sports quota and offering lucrative returns on a business investment. The accused have allegedly projected themselves as influential intermediaries with deep political and police connections, bolstering their claims with photographs with senior officials and by handing over what they describe as an “official” government-issued phone.

After a two-month investigation conducted on the instructions of the police commissioner, the Shimlapuri police registered an FIR against Harjinder Singh, his wife Kulwinder Kaur and their son Unique Singh, all residents of New Shimlapuri. The trio were charged under sections 316(2), 318(4), 336(2)(3), 340(2) and 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for offenses including fraud, forgery, criminal breach of trust and criminal conspiracy.

According to the complaint filed by Parminderpal, a car dealer of Prem Nagar in Civil Lines, Harjinder Singh approached the family in February 2025 with an assurance that he could secure a DSP rank appointment for Parminderpal’s 25-year-old son Naman Goyal, who had played under-19 cricket at the national level. The accused apparently claimed and demanded that the appointment would be facilitated in terms of the sports quota ₹55 lakh for the arrangement.

Naman said that the payment was made through a combination of cash and online transfers, with the assurance that the placement would materialize within a few months. To bolster his credibility, Harjinder Singh allegedly claimed to be the first cousin of a former director general of police in Punjab and claimed to have enjoyed considerable influence in police and political circles. He deliberately displayed photographs with senior police officers and prominent political leaders, including a former chief minister, to substantiate his claims.

In a further attempt to win the family’s trust, Harjinder allegedly handed over a keypad mobile phone to Naman, describing it as an “official number” issued by the DGP’s office. He reportedly told the family that the device was equipped with a special chip that enabled direct communication with any police station and location tracking capability.

Thereafter, Harjinder produced an alleged joining letter dated November 21, 2025 directing Naman to report to the police academy in Phillaur. However, no formal communication followed through official channels. When the family tried to accompany Naman to the academy or asked for confirmation of the appointment, the accused allegedly offered repeated apologies. After realizing that no actual appointment had been processed, the family demanded a refund, after which they were allegedly threatened.

Apart from the job promise, the accused also persuaded Parminderpal to invest ₹30 lakh in their aluminum printing business, ensuring substantial profits. According to the complaint, no return was ever paid. Almost ₹20 lakh of the total amount was reportedly raised through loans.

Police said Harjinder’s wife and son were present during various meetings and transactions. Harjinder also allegedly misrepresented that his son was serving as an Assistant Sub-Inspector in the Punjab Police.

ASI Salwinder Pal, the investigating officer, said a case was registered after a detailed investigation found substance in the allegations. “The accused are currently absconding and raids are being conducted to nab them,” the ASI added.