Kottayam, 13 August (H.S.): Chingavanam police have arrested a 64-year-old man accused of cheating several jobseekers of nearly ₹3.5 crore after promising to arrange nursing and other employment opportunities in Canada.

The accused has been identified as Jameskutty Kuriyakose, a native of Changanassery who was residing at Panangad in Ernakulam district. Police took him into custody as part of an investigation into a cheating case registered at the Chingavanam police station.

A lookout circular had earlier been issued against Kuriyakose after investigators were unable to trace him. He was subsequently located near the India-Bangladesh border with the assistance of the Border Security Force's immigration wing and handed over to the Kerala Police.

According to the preliminary investigation, Kuriyakose allegedly approached people seeking employment abroad and claimed that he could secure nursing and other jobs for them in Canada. He is suspected of collecting substantial amounts from the applicants as recruitment charges and expenses connected with the overseas placement process.

However, the promised jobs were allegedly not arranged. Investigators said the money collected from the applicants was also not returned, prompting the victims to approach the police. The total amount involved in the alleged fraud is estimated at around ₹3.5 crore.

Police are now examining his financial transactions and attempting to establish the precise number of people who were cheated. They are also investigating whether other individuals or recruitment agents assisted him in collecting money or making employment promises.

Investigators have received information that Kuriyakose faces similar financial fraud cases at several police stations across Kerala. These include Edathua, Karunagappally, Pathanamthitta, Koothattukulam, Peramangalam, Marangattupilly, Vaikom, Fort Kochi, Angamaly, Changanassery, Elathur, Thodupuzha and Pallikkathode.

Police are collecting details of these cases and verifying whether they followed a similar pattern. Further arrests have not been ruled out as the investigation continues.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman