A financial dispute linked to a foreign job promise has led to criminal action after a welder reported being cheated of a large sum of money.
Separately, more than 52,000 women were removed from the Gruha Lakshmi scheme after being identified as taxpayers. A senior official said her department had no role in deleting beneficiary names.
In the visa case, the Kadaba police registered a complaint against Perambil Joseph Manoj and Smitha Manoj for cheating and making false promises of an employment visa to Poland.
According to the complaint, the victim, a welder, wanted to work abroad and planned to travel in January 2023. He shared this plan with his friend Shijo and later met the accused, who ran an office at Nelyadi. They allegedly claimed to have strong contacts in Poland and links with visa officials.
The accused demanded Rs 5 lakh, promising a visa within 6 months. The complainant first transferred Rs 1 lakh to begin the process. He later paid Rs 2.5 lakh in instalments between March 2023 and September 2023.
In September 2023, the accused told him the visa process was in its final stage and asked him to travel to Mumbai for an interview. They demanded an additional Rs 1 lakh. During his visit, the complainant realised no visa application had been submitted and that he had been cheated.
When questioned, the accused assured him that the money would be returned by December 2025. However, Perambil Joseph Manoj allegedly became unreachable in January 2026, and Smitha Manoj reportedly threatened the complainant when he demanded a refund.
Based on the complaint, the Kadaba Police registered a case under Sections 417 and 420 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
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