Peelamedu police arrested 47-year-old A Bharathiraja on Thursday for cheating 46 people of ₹46 lakh by promising them jobs in Singapore. Police recovered Rs6.40 lakh from his office and formed a special team to apprehend the mastermind behind the scam.
The investigation revealed Bharathiraja, a resident of Abhiramam near Paramakudi in Ramanathapuram district, had opened an office called Infinity Travels and Associates in Chinniyampalayam in January 2025. He appointed a woman as a telecaller who contacted around 500 job applicants, promising monthly salaries between Rs80,000 and Rs1,50,000 for selected candidates.
The firm demanded Rs1 lakh as a processing fee and informed candidates that an additional Rs2.75 lakh would be deducted from their salaries over two years as service charges. After conducting online interviews, 46 candidates from across the state were shortlisted and asked to visit the office on April 10 to pay ₹1 lakh and collect their appointment letters.
The candidates were provided food and accommodation in a marriage hall. However, suspicion arose when one aspirant, Sridhar (24) of Dindigul, questioned the authenticity of his appointment letter and requested a refund. A heated argument followed, and Sridhar alerted the police.
On inquiry, the police found that the appointment letters were fake. Two of Bharathiraja’s aides fled with the collected cash before the police arrived. During questioning, Bharathiraja claimed the scam was orchestrated by Senthil from Coimbatore city, who remains at large. The police have launched a manhunt for him.
Bharathiraja was taken into judicial custody the same night, and police continue to investigate the case.
