KOCHI: Karthika Pradeep, CEO of 'Take Off Overseas Education Consultancy', has been arrested for duping crores of rupees from youths by promising them jobs abroad. Karthika was taken into custody by the Kochi Central Police on the complaint of a Thrissur native.

According to the complainant, Karthika siphoned lakhs from her with fake job promises. After the investigation, Karthika was taken into custody from Kozhikode. Karthika was paid Rs 5.23 lakh on several occasions by the Thrissur native on the promise of a social worker job in the UK. The complainant paid through her bank account and online transaction between August 26 and December 14, 2024.

Kochi Central Station House Officer Aneesh John said that apart from these, five people from Thrissur and Kozhikode have filed complaints against Karthika.

Karthika, a native of Pathanamthitta, lives in Thrissur. Police said that she had extorted money by promising jobs in foreign countries like Germany and the UK.

Karthika introduced herself as a doctor in Ukraine to all the job seekers. In addition to Ernakulam, there are also complaints against Karthika's firm, Take Off Overseas Education Consultancy, at police stations in Thiruvananthapuram, Pathanamthitta, Thrissur, and Kozhikode districts.

With police registering a case, Karthika closed down her firm indefinitely and disappeared. In the investigation, it was found that the firm was functioning without a license. It is doubted that Karthika siphoned more than rupees three lakh from job seekers in Kochi.

Kochi Central Station House Officer Aneesh John said that a detailed investigation into the incident is underway.