Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram
Journalism of Courage
This is an archive article published on September 3, 2025
Promised jobs in Russia, two men paid Rs 4 lakh — only to be duped, left stranded in Omsk
Both Chauhan and Saini paid Rs 25,000 each for the initial paperwork for the jobs. They then transferred a total of Rs. 4.05 lakh to multiple accounts provided by Premchand
During his stay in Saudi Arabia, Chauhan had allegedly befriended Nizamuddin Akram Khan, one of his fellow workers, who identified himself as a 'travel agent' and a resident of South Delhi’s Badarpur
When Pramod Chauhan (45) returned to his home in Uttar Pradesh’s Maharajganj from Saudi Arabia in June, he did not plan to return. For the past 18 years, he had been toiling as a mason abroad and visited his family once a year. “This time, however, he had left Saudi Arabia for good and was looking to move to another country for a job,” a police officer said.
During his stay in Saudi Arabia, Chauhan had allegedly befriended Nizamuddin Akram Khan, one of his fellow workers, who identified himself as a ‘travel agent’ and a resident of South Delhi’s Badarpur. “Chauhan contacted Akram for getting a new job, as Akram had told him that he knows people who arrange for work visas and job letters,” the officer said.
Akram called Chauhan to the Mithapur area in Delhi and introduced him to a man named Premchand. Outside Akram’s house in Badarpur, on June 30, Premchand allegedly handed Chauhan an appointment letter of a Russia-based company named ‘Haka Moscow’ , according to police.
“Akram did not take Chauhan to his office or even inside his house. But Chauhan trusted him, and even told his neighbour, Gautam Saini, about him. Saini also approached Akram, and got what they thought was a job letter and work visa,” the officer said.
Both Chauhan and Saini paid Rs 25,000 each for the initial paperwork for the jobs. They then transferred a total of Rs. 4.05 lakh to multiple accounts provided by Premchand. On July 1, the duo went to Kazakhstan. After staying there for some days, Saini and Chauhan both boarded a flight to Omsk in Russia.
“The accused left both of them stranded in Omsk. Both Akram and Premchand were unreachable. The men realised that they had been duped,” the police officer said. Without a place to stay or money, Chauhan and Saini contacted their families, and came back to India on July 17, said police.
Chauhan then approached the Delhi Police, and an FIR was registered. “Search is on for both the accused and their involvement in more such frauds is being investigated,” the officer said.
© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd
Advertisement
Loading Recommendations...
Advertisement
Live Blog
Advertisement