Navi Mumbai: In a major recruitment scam, the CBD Belapur police have booked a father-son duo for allegedly defrauding several educated youths of approximately Rs 20.40 lakh by promising them lucrative jobs in the merchant navy and shipping sectors.

The suspects, identified as Vaibhav Sanjay Singh (32) and his father Sanjay Singh (64), owners of SSS Nautical Marine Pvt. Ltd., have reportedly shuttered their office and fled.

According to police sources, the duo set up an office six months ago at Raheja Arcade in CBD Sector-11. They targeted young job seekers by obtaining their contact details from shipping databases and inviting them for interviews. The victims were lured with the promise of high-paying placements on international vessels in countries like Norway and the Maldives.

The scam came to light when Nahush Namdev Neugre (23), a resident of Diva, filed a formal complaint. Neugre had paid Rs 1 lakh for a placement but grew suspicious when the joining dates were repeatedly deferred.

During his visits to the office, he met other victims who had been cheated under similar pretexts. The duo even allegedly borrowed Rs 10 lakh as a personal loan from their own employee, Shubham Darekar, and failed to return it.

When the victims collectively pressured the duo for refunds, Sanjay Singh reportedly issued a notarized affidavit on November 21, 2025, claiming he would sell his ancestral land to clear all debts. However, shortly after signing the document, the father and son locked their office and vanished.

We have registered a case against Vaibhav and Sanjay Singh under Sections 318(4) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS)," said an official from the CBD Police Station.

The accused are originally from Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, and were residing in Ulwe. A manhunt has been launched to track them down, and authorities are investigating if more youths have fallen prey to this syndicate.

Victims cheated by the duo

Ishwarsingh Kathayat (Uttarakhand): Duped of Rs 7.50 lakh for a job in Norway.

Sandeep Chavan (Digha, Navi Mumbai): Lost Rs 69,800.

Mohammad Kafil Ansari (Mumbra): Defrauded of Rs 70,000.

Danish Shafiq Khan (Uttar Pradesh): Paid Rs 50,000 for a placement in Maldives.