Udupi: A major visa fraud case has come to light, where the complainant alleged that a Chandigarh-based company collected approximately Rs 63.9 lakh from him on the promise of securing overseas jobs for 22 people. In a complaint, Vasanth D Poojary stated that since he was abroad earlier, some acquaintances approached him for help in getting visas to travel abroad. When the complainant enquired with Jobi Arangassery Devassy, a resident of Surathkal, he was informed that through the company Advice House Experts, Chandigarh, work visas for people going abroad would be arranged.Accordingly, on April 6, the complainant went to Chandigarh to enquire about the visas. There, Jobi introduced him to Shagun HR Global, company’s MD Vijay Inder Singh (Manveer), Raman, and Nirwair Singh. They showed the complainant a copy of the company’s licence and explained details regarding the company. Later, after returning to his hometown, the complainant approached the company to arrange visas for two persons known to him, Suraj and Manish, to travel to Azerbaijan. The company agreed, and as per the agreement, on July 8 last year, Rs 6 lakh was allegedly transferred, and on July 12, another Rs 1 lakh was transferred via RTGS from the complainant’s SBI account to the account provided by the company, which is approximately Rs 3.5 lakh per person. Subsequently, on Sept 22, the company issued job offers and flight tickets for Suraj and Manish to Azerbaijan but cancelled the same shortly thereafter. Meanwhile, for 20 more acquaintances, the complainant also arranged through the same company for overseas employment. Altogether, including cash payments and transfers, the complainant allegedly paid the company Rs 56.9 lakh. In Jan this year, after the cancellation of Suraj and Manish’s tickets, suspicion arose, and the complainant visited Chandigarh to enquire. The company representatives assured him that they were not committing fraud and would indeed send all applicants abroad. Even after the complainant visited Chandigarh about 14-15 times, the response remained the same. Later, when the complainant demanded repayment from the company’s MD, they issued two Kotak Mahindra Bank cheques of Rs 6 lakh each dated July 10 and July 30. When the complainant presented them at Axis Bank, Padubidri, it was found that the cheques were from a closed account. When questioned, the company promised to issue other cheques and return the money but failed to do so. A case in this regard has been registered at the Kaup police station under Sections 316(2) (criminal breach of trust), 318(2) (cheating), 318(4), read with Section 3(5) (common intention) of the BNS.
