Canada job scam: Raids held to track down accused

Kochi: Police on Sunday held multiple inspections across the city in connection with the case in which seven people from other states were held captive in a rented building at Cheranalloor.

Police had rescued the group, who were brought to Kochi promising jobs in Canada, on Friday.According to sources, searches were held at lodges and other locations across the city amid suspicions that the suspects may attempt to flee the district. Police have information that key accused Karnataka native Aryan, a resident of Canada, is currently in the state. Sources said that efforts were on track him and 10 others who are also absconding.

Police suspect that the racket has international links.Police rescued the group from a building on Mundyathu Road near Cheranalloor signal based on confidential information they received. When the police found them, all the victims were in a weak condition. Those rescued are from Haryana, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka, police said. All the victims had completed education only till Class VIII.The gang took around Rs 30 lakh from each job aspirant after convincing them that they would be given jobs in Canada, police said.

The accused instead brought everyone to the rented house in Cheranalloor and held them captive.Police said the accused set up boards with pictures of places in Canada in the background and coerced the aspirants into making videos saying they have reached Canada. They would send these videos to the aspirants’ relatives in their hometowns and obtain money, officers said.After one of the captives escaped from the rented house, the accused fled with the money.

Subsequently, during investigation, police arrested Abdul Raheem, a native of Siliguri in West Bengal, from Ernakulam Junction railway station area.At the time of arrest, police recovered the victims’ mobile phones, passports and nearly Rs 1 lakh from Raheem. He would soon be sought in custody for further investigation. Police have received information that the accused had carried out such frauds in other states too.