Berhampur (Odisha), Dec 25: Police in Odisha’s Ganjam district have arrested a 45-year-old man for allegedly cheating nearly 500 job aspirants by promising them employment opportunities in Singapore, officials said on Thursday.
The accused, identified as Subrat Kumar Palo, a resident of Hillpatna in Berhampur, was arrested on Wednesday following an FIR registered at Berhampur Sadar police station.
During the arrest, police seized two mobile phones, photocopies of air tickets, computer-generated Singapore work permits, health check-up certificates purportedly issued by a Chennai-based diagnostic centre, and fake appointment letters of a shipping company from his possession.
Investigations revealed that Palo, along with an associate, had set up a job consultancy and training centre at Bhabinipur. The duo allegedly advertised overseas job opportunities through posters, banners and leaflets, claiming to offer well-paying jobs in Singapore and conducting interviews to lure job seekers.
Police said the accused collected Rs30,000 from each victim, cheating around 500 people in total.
Berhampur Superintendent of Police Saravana Vivek M stated that Palo was also involved in three other cheating cases. One such case was registered at Vizianagaram rural police station in Andhra Pradesh on March 6, 2024. The other two cases were registered at Berhampur town police station in August 2009 and Tikabali police station in Kandhamal district in July 2017.
Further investigation is underway to identify additional victims and associates linked to the scam.
