Gumla: Simdega district police have busted an alleged job racket operating under the guise of an NGO and arrested six persons, including its alleged kingpin from Bihar, for cheating job seekers by collecting security deposits on the promise of employment. Police said the accused were sent to judicial custody on Thursday and that the fraud may have involved transactions worth Rs 5-6 crore.The action followed complaints from residents under Bano and Kurdeg police station areas, who alleged that a private organisation had collected money from people while promising jobs in various positions. Based on the complaints, Bano police station registered a case on Sept 3 and Kurdeg police station registered a case on Aug 25.Those arrested are Om Prakash (44), a resident of Muzaffarpur in Bihar and the alleged mastermind; Ashok Sai (43) of Kurdeg; Ennis Kerketta (42) and Saroj Kerketta (44) of Thethaitangar in Simdega; Goreiti Kerketta (39) of Ranchi; and Kundan Sharma (46) of Sitamarhi in Bihar.Simdega SP Shrikant S Khotre said, “A special investigation team (SIT), constituted under the leadership of the DSP (headquarters) and SDPO Simdega, conducted the operation and arrested all six accused. Based on information provided by the accused, important documentary and electronic evidence linked to the case has been recovered and seized.”According to the investigation, the NGO allegedly operated by Om Prakash from a registered office in Delhi, ran programmes named Nari Pad Seva and Bal Janani Shiksha Abhiyan. Police said the organisation created a hierarchical structure comprising state heads, district heads, block coordinators and centre in-charges, with appointments allegedly made after collecting security deposits ranging from Rs 40,000 to Rs 3 lakh.Investigators also found that candidates were recruited for NTT (nursery tuition teacher) and PTT (primary tuition teacher) posts under the education programme after being asked to deposit Rs 40,000 and Rs 60,000 respectively. The SIT has alleged that the organisation encouraged existing members to bring in more recruits by offering incentives and rewards through promotional material circulated on a messaging app.Police said preliminary findings indicate that around Rs 5-6 crore may have been defrauded through the scheme and that proceeds were allegedly used for personal financial gain and property purchases. Authorities have initiated legal proceedings to attach the accused’s properties with the aim of recovering money and compensating victims. Further investigation is underway into the financial transactions and wider network linked to the foundation.