Bhubaneswar: More skeletons are likely to tumble out in the high-profile Tata Motors ‘recruitment fraud’ in Odisha as the Crime Branch on Friday took Akash Pathak, the son of suspended IFS officer Abhay Kant Pathak, on a five day remand for questioning in connection with the matter.
Akash Pathak , who allegedly spun a web of lies from posing as managing director of Tata Motors ‘passenger division’ has also been charged of handing out fake joining letters to several youths and job aspirants especially from Berhampur and Gopalpur areas.
It is expected that the probe agency will be able to elicit crucial information on the allegations levelled against Akash like cheating, forgery and the criminal conspiracy during the interrogation.
A senior officer, on condition of anonymity, said the Crime Branch is looking closely on several aspects of the case like number of people duped by Akash and his links with arrested Gopalpur MLA Pradeep Panigrahi and others pertaining to financial transactions and his opulent lifestyle.
Meanwhile, the Commissionerate Police on Friday produced Akash and his father Abhay Kant Pathak before court in connection with fraud charges levelled against them by Sky King, a Bhubaneswar-based travel agency.
Earlier, Sky King had lodged a complaint against the Pathaks' for committing a fraud to the tune of Rs 65 lakh.
During his production in court, Akash today reiterated that he is innocent and alleged that he is being framed.
It is pertinent to mention here that both Akash and his father IFS Abhay Kant Pathak were arrested on November 27. While Akash was arrested on the charges of committing fraud and duping youths by promising them jobs in Tata Motors, his father was arrested by the Vigilance for acquiring assets disproportionate to his known sources of income.