A 30-year-old man from Cossipore allegedly cheated at least a dozen youths of several lakhs by claiming to be “very close” to Firhad Hakim, the transport and housing minister, and promising them government jobs.

Ayan Barua’s name cropped up after one of those allegedly duped lodged a police complaint. The police are looking for him.

“The accused has duped at least a dozen. The amounts varied between Rs 15,000 and Rs 20,000 as first instalment,” said a senior officer of Cossipore police station.

Hakim said: “I am not aware of who has cheated whom by taking my name or claiming to be close to me. But one must realise this is not the way the government offers jobs to aspirants.”

Fake visas

A man has been arrested for allegedly making forged visas and selling them to people who were apparently unable to get visas from the respective embassies, police said.

A Delhi police team jointly raided a Haridevpur apartment with Calcutta police on Friday and arrested Nand Kishore Prasad. Cops seized at least 83 passports and a document that resembles a Russian visa.