The long arm of the law has finally caught up with Dhanya Mohan, a 40-year-old woman accused of embezzling nearly Rs20 crore since 2020. She allegedly diverted funds from the personal loan account of Manappuram Comptech and Consultants Ltd (Macom), where she worked for 18 years in a senior role.
Dhanya, who served as an assistant general manager and tech lead at the Thrissur-based IT product and services arm of Manappuram Finance, was arrested on Friday evening in Kollam after initially absconding following the fraud detection.
The fraud was uncovered when the company lodged a complaint against her on July 23, 2024, after discovering an RS 85 lakh embezzlement. A subsequent investigation revealed that the total fraud amounted to Rs19.94 crore, committed over several years starting from May 2020.
According to DySP Salish N S of Kodungallur, Dhanya created fake accounts and funneled company funds disguised as ‘loans’ into her father and brother’s accounts. She reportedly financed her online rummy addiction and acquired properties and luxury cars with the stolen funds.
Dhanya continued to work at the company until the complaint was registered. Upon learning about the investigation, she claimed health issues and subsequently evaded authorities, going into hiding with her family. Police have also issued a lookout notice for her husband, Mohan, who recently returned to Kerala after working abroad.
Investigators believe Dhanya’s online rummy addiction contributed to her fraudulent behavior, prompting her to misappropriate funds. Authorities are working to determine the full extent of her financial transactions and plan to question her for further details on the scheme.
