A former Calcutta police constable was among four persons arrested on Wednesday for allegedly promising six youths jobs as home guard against a payment of Rs 35 lakh.

One of the four accused, Masud Rana, had allegedly impersonated a deputy superintendent of police of Bengal police to lure the youths. “Another accused, Rabi Murmu, is a former constable of the Calcutta police,” said an officer.

Murmu was dismissed in 2012 when he was allegedly caught in connection with a similar job racket.

As a part of their racket, the accused men had provided purported appointment letters to the youths, given them khaki berets and belts. They assured them that their joining date was July 8.

The six youths, who are from West Midnapore, were brought to Calcutta and stayed in a hotel in Chandni Chowk area for the past few days.

“Initially the racketeers were paying for the hotel fare and the food bill. But they had switched off their phones in the last 48 hours arising suspicion among the youths,” said an investigator.

The police arrested Rana, Murmu and two of their associates — Subhro Nag Roy, from Gaighata in North 24-Parganas and Paritosh Burman, from Pingla in West Midnapore.

The four were booked under sections of cheating, forgery, fraud, criminal conspiracy.

The police said cash Rs 1.85 lakh, incriminating documents like fake identity cards as the DSP in name of Rana, purportedly forged appointment letters for the post of home guards in Bengal police and khaki berets and belts were seized from their possession.