The Central Crime Branch (CCB) unit of Mangaluru City police has arrested Masiulla Atiulla Khan, 36, from Mumbai, as the prime accused in a massive overseas job recruitment scam. The case was originally registered at the Mangaluru East police station after several complaints were received.
According to Mangaluru City Police Commissioner Anupam Agrawal, Khan collected Rs1.7 lakh from individual victims by promising employment opportunities abroad. Investigations revealed he had duped multiple young job seekers, collecting an estimated Rs1.8 crore in total through fraudulent recruitment schemes.
Authorities say Khan created a company under false pretenses and conducted unauthorized hiring processes without government approval. A separate complaint had already been filed against him in December 2024 by immigration authorities, prompting a broader investigation.
Lawrence D’Souza, president of the Dakshina Kannada District Congress Labourers’ Cell, demanded a comprehensive probe after more than 300 job aspirants across Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, and South India reportedly lost over Rs8 crore to similar schemes. Victims were lured with fake job offers in New Zealand, Azerbaijan, and Singapore, paying amounts between Rs1.9 lakh and Rs5 lakh.
In response to emerging evidence, Avaneesh Shukla, Protector of Emigrants (POE) for Karnataka and Goa under the Ministry of External Affairs, visited Mangaluru after receiving credible reports of unauthorized interviews for overseas jobs.
The investigation has also triggered internal accountability. On Monday, the Police Commissioner suspended two officers for failing to act on earlier complaints against Hireglow Elegant Overseas International (HEOI) Pvt Ltd, a licensed overseas recruiter allegedly involved in irregular practices.
The CCB continues to investigate multiple angles of the fraud, including links between private firms and possible official negligence.
