Media Release
Udupi, Aug 17: In a significant legal victory, the II Addl District and Sessions Judge Udupi has issued a non-bailable warrant against Nagesh Poojary, a former employee of the Fortune Group of Hotels, Dubai on charges of financial fraud. The verdict marks the culmination of a thorough investigation and legal proceedings that have uncovered extensive fraudulent activities by Nagesh Poojary during his tenure with the company in Dubai, UAE.
Praveen Shetty, chairman, Fortune Group of Hotels, expressed his deep gratitude to the Indian judiciary for upholding the principles of justice. "We have always believed in the integrity of the legal system in India, and once again, justice has prevailed. Despite the lies and deceit employed by Nagesh Poojary to cover up his misdeeds, the truth has come to light," said Praveen Shetty.
"Nagesh’s actions represent a serious breach of trust and a gross violation of the ethical standards that we uphold at the Fortune Group of Hotels. We remain committed to ensuring that such incidents are addressed with the full force of the law and will continue to cooperate with authorities to bring Nagesh Poojary to justice," added Shetty.
Background
Nagesh Poojary, aged 31 was employed by the Fortune Group of Hotels in 2015, having been recruited from Dubai, UAE, with an outside country visa. Initially appointed as an accounts assistant with a starting salary of AED 1,200, he was eventually promoted to the position of chief accountant in 2022, earning AED 3,000 per month.
During his employment, Nagesh was entrusted with the responsibility of maintaining the company’s financial records, including the management of cash transactions, cheques, and credit card payments. However, it was later discovered that he had been manipulating these records by creating fake journal entries, particularly in relation to cash transactions, to conceal the unauthorized diversion of funds into his personal bank accounts in India.
An internal audit initiated by the company in 2022 raised suspicions when discrepancies were found between the revenue registered in the system and the actual cash deposits reflected in the company’s bank statements. Further investigation revealed that Nagesh had transferred substantial sums of money, amounting to Rs 1.35 crore, into his personal bank account in Canara Bank, Barkur, over a span of nine months.
This staggering sum, far exceeding his legitimate earnings over the last eight years, was used to finance the construction of a property worth Rs 1 crore in his hometown. The company’s management was shocked and dismayed to learn of these unauthorized activities, which were carried out without any prior notice and under suspicious circumstances.
Following these revelations, the Fortune Group of Hotels took immediate legal action against Nagesh, leading to his prosecution and the eventual issuance of a non-bailable warrant by the district court.