Chaos erupted at Suzuki's new Indian manufacturing plant on Wednesday (18 January) after fake job ads were posted on social media.
About 1,500 youths, lured by false promises of walk-in interviews, thronged the plant at Hansalpur, about 50 miles (80km) from Ahmedabad, Economic Times of India reported.
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A big ruckus ensued after the job seekers were not allowed to enter the premises, and they found out that no such recruitment drive was going on .
Police eventually were called in to tackle the restless unemployed youths amid reports of stone pelting. The situation was controlled by convincing the job seekers the social media posts were false.
A Maruti statement suggested there had been emails, too.
"Our attention has been drawn by certain members of the public that they have received communication through e-mails for job interviews in Maruti Suzuki wherein they are amongst other things, demanding cash deposit(s) in certain specified bank(s) before the actual interviews. These individuals/recruitment companies are also wrongfully using Maruti Suzuki's registered trademark as well as using the names of certain officials of the company to lure innocent members of the public to fall into this trap.
"We would like to categorically state that these communications are purely made with the intent to defraud the public and Maruti Suzuki has not authorised any person to require any payment /cash deposit to be made by any candidate to our company and/or to any individuals in the recruitment process.
"We urge the public not to be misled by such communications purportedly made by our company including through e-mails."
"We understand that it was due to a fake message in social media. The company, too, is surprised by the development," Suzuki Motor Gujarat, a subsidiary of SMC, said earlier in a statement.
ET said the the fake message in circulation misled people by stating that the company was hiring electricians, welders, wiremen and CNC/VMC operators and pegged the salary at INR16,900 (US$248 per month).
The Hansalpur passenger car facility near Mehsana is set to go on stream in February and about 10,000 cars are expected to be produced at the plant during the current financial year (to 31 March 2017).
