67 job seekers duped of Rs 1.25cr

BANGALORE: Sixty-seven young graduates, including engineers and MBA professionals, were allegedly cheated of Rs 1.25 crore by a placement company before it shut shop. The JP Nagar-based firm which had promised them jobs in Australia, has disappeared.
Anxious aspirants from various Tamil Nadu districts have been camping in the city for the past few days.Each of them is said to have paid Rs 2 lakh to the firm. On Friday, the aggrieved lot approached additional commissioner of police (crime) Harishekharan who promised them justice by next Monday.
S Loganathan, 26, a resident of Vellore, said most of the candidates came to know about the company, Man Power Consultancy, through the internet. In December last, they approached managing director Anil Kumar, managers Paramesh and Mahadev, and coordinator Lakshmi, seeking employment in Australia. Loganathan said like others, he too shelled out nearly Rs 2 lakh and deposited the amount in Anil Kumar's bank account.
On making the full payment, they were given offer letters. However, nothing was heard post-March, the deadline set by the company to report to work. Some candidates who had submitted their original certificates were told there was some delay in processing the documents.
On September 22, the youths went to the company's office at IG Circle, JP Nagar Phase I, only to find it had vacated the premises. "Some of us have sold gold and property to pay the consultancy; some have also raised loans. We don't know what to do," rued Loganathan. Police have registered a case against all the accused.