PATHANAMTHITTA: A Punnavely native has been arrested for fraud of more than one crore rupees by making a fake identity document of the Kerala Agricultural Farm in Mannuthy. The state-wide fraud was carried out by promising to supply quality crops, including Malaysian coconut seedlings.

Thiruvalla police arrested V P James, a native of Punnavely. He introduced himself with IDs of Kerala Agricultural Farm through WhatsApp and offline. He would then make them believe that he has quality seeds. He extorted more than Rs 6 lakh from a resident of Thiruvalla by saying that he would give him Malaysian coconut saplings.

He duped many people all over the state by promising them Rambutan saplings, nutmegs, coconut saplings and Jackfruit saplings. According to the complaints received by the police, James has committed fraud of Rs 1 crore and 20 lakhs. The police say that there will be more complaints. The accused is using the money stolen from the locals to live a luxurious life. The accused was produced before the Thiruvalla court and remanded.