In Uttar Pradesh, a gang of fraudsters allegedly duped several people, who aspired to become ministers, to the tune of lakhs by assuring them posts, which enjoyed the status of ministers of state, according to police sources here.

The gang, which was said to be active in the western region of the state, offered the victims the posts of vice-presidents and secretaries of state cooperative institutions, which has minister of state status and they were also entitled to have vehicles with beacon lights, furnished government accommodation and gunners for security.

The police came to know about the gang after a victim, a resident of Muzzafarnagar, lodged a complaint with the state home department. The victim, Rajveer Singh, in his complaint alleged that he had paid Rs 60 lakh to get the post of cooperative institution vice-president, which enjoyed the status of a minister of state. “Singh was issued a proper appointment letter containing terms and condition of his appointment and facilities to be provided to him,” the officials said.

Singh realised that he had been cheated after he made inquiries in the state capital about the letter and the cooperative institute. Singh was threatened after he demanded his money back and threatened to expose the gang members.

Officials said that there were other such victims also, who had been duped by the fraudsters to the tune of lakhs but they may be hesitating to lodge a formal complaint in this regard. “We are investigating the matter”, officials said.