Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Oct 29: In a major crackdown on a visa scam, the Mangaluru police have arrested two individuals who allegedly cheated several people by promising overseas employment and collecting nearly Rs 1 crore without providing jobs.
Police said the accused convinced residents in the Kavoor police station limits that they could arrange foreign work visas and lucrative jobs abroad. Believing their assurances, several people transferred large sums of money. When no jobs materialised, complaints were filed with the police.
A case has been registered at Kavoor police station under Crime No. 131/2025 for offences under Sections 406, 420 and 149 of the Indian Penal Code, relating to criminal breach of trust, cheating and criminal conspiracy.
The arrested have been identified as Prakruthi U (34), daughter of T Upendra, a resident of Weavers Colony, Anekal Taluk, Bengaluru and the second accused is Alton Rebello (42), son of Augustin Rebello, a resident of Church Road, Gangolli, Kundapura, Udupi Taluk.
During a follow-up raid conducted in Bengaluru, the police seized 24 passports allegedly collected from job seekers under the pretext of arranging visas. They also recovered 43 grams of gold, estimated to be worth Rs 4.3 lac.
In addition, two mobile phone handsets used in the fraudulent operation were confiscated.
“The accused had been running a well-organised network, collecting passports and money from people under the guise of overseas job placements,” a police official said. “They had stored the documents illegally at their residence,” the official added.
The duo were taken into custody, questioned, and produced before the jurisdictional court. The operation was carried out under the supervision of ACP (North Sub-Division) Srikanta K, led by police inspector Raghavendra M Byndoor and sub-inspector Mallikarjun Biradar, with the assistance of H C Nagarathna and PCs Raghavendra, Praveen, and Riyaz from Kavoor police station.
Police suspect that the accused may have cheated many more people using the same method.
Further investigation is underway.