KOLLAM: Two absconding company owners have been arrested in Maharashtra in the case of extorting rupees one and a half crores. Sunitha (34), a native of Haripad Naduvattam, Alappuzha, and Justin Xavier (32), a native of Thattekad, Thottapally, were arrested by Shaktikulangara police from Chandrapur in Maharashtra.

The fraud was perpetrated through a firm called GDGH Trading Company, which operated at Kollam Kavanad Vallikeezhu Junction. Job vacancies in agriculture farms and home care firms in Japan were advertised through social media and amounts ranging between Rs.25000 to two lakh rupees were collected from many. An agreement was also signed on Rs.100 stamp paper to ensure credibility.

This organization was functioning in Kollam as a sister organization of a recruiting organization operating in Haripad. Receipts were also given for the money taken. The promise was to give job within four months. Although this organization started its operations in Kollam one and a half years ago, it collected money by advertising eight months ago only. When people contacted the office after four months of payment, they were reassured that it would be ready soon. The fraud came to light in the meantime when the employees of the organization came to the Sakthikulangara station two weeks ago complaining that they were not getting their salaries. Then the manager of the institution, Stephen, was called to the station and arrested.

The money was given by people on the belief that it was an organization recognized by the central government, but all the documents produced by the manager were fake. Earlier, those who asked for money to be returned were cheated by giving checks. In the meantime, those who lost their money came to the Sakthikulangara station to complain. Most of them were from outside the district. Sunitha and Justin went on the run when the police started investigating. With this, a special investigation team was formed under the leadership of Sakthikulangara Inspector Binu Varghese.

Both Sunitha and Justin used multiple SIM cards. During the investigation conducted on these, cyber cell found one of these numbers to be switched on intermittently. The tower location was in Chennai and later shifted to Mangalore. With this, the information was forwarded to the RPF and the police of various states. When they reached Chandrapur by train, the RPF stopped them and informed the Sakthikulangara police. The accused were arrested by a team consisting of Shaktikulangare SI IG Asha, SCPO Jayakumari, CPOs Abu Tahir and Srikanth.