Two physiotherapists from Salem were arrested on Monday night in connection with a job fraud case. The accused, G Chandrasekar (49) from Kannankurichi and P Thangaiyaraj (49) from Hasthampatty, allegedly defrauded M Govindaraj, a 55-year-old local resident, of Rs14.36 lakh under the pretense of helping him secure a government job for his son.
According to police, Chandrasekar and Thangaiyaraj, who had been practicing physiotherapy for over 20 years, developed a close relationship with Govindaraj, who sought treatment at their clinic. Over time, Govindaraj confided in the two about his family issues, and they promised to leverage their supposed connections with government officials to secure a job for his son.
In a desperate bid to fulfill his son’s job aspirations, Govindaraj transferred a total of Rs14.36 lakh to the accused over several instalments, trusting their assurances. However, after receiving the money, the duo failed to deliver on their promise, and despite Govindaraj’s multiple attempts to reclaim his funds, they remained unresponsive.
Frustrated by his growing financial losses, Govindaraj filed a complaint with the Salem district crime branch. An investigation led to the arrest of Chandrasekar and Thangaiyaraj. Police believe that the two had been using their position of trust as physiotherapists to exploit vulnerable individuals, taking advantage of their hopes for securing government employment.
Both the accused are now facing serious charges, including fraud and cheating, and are in police custody. The investigation is ongoing, with authorities looking into whether there are more victims involved in this fraudulent scheme.
This case serves as a stark reminder to the public to be cautious when approached by individuals promising connections to secure government jobs or other official positions, as many such schemes are likely to be scams.