Representative Image Crime (Freepik)
Kerela: Last year, Sindhu K, a chef from Azhikode in Kannur district, was on the lookout for a two-wheeler to help her commute to work. She stumbled upon an enticing offer: women could purchase two-wheelers at half the on-road price. The offer was brought to her attention by Pushpajan, a local member of the tailors’ welfare board and secretary of a group called Seed Society. Sindhu was told that major corporations were offering discounts through CSR funds, covering the cost of two-wheelers, household appliances, and other essentials at a fraction of the price. After confirming this with others who had benefited from similar schemes, Sindhu transferred ₹60,000 to secure a TVS Jupiter. However, she, along with hundreds of others, was left waiting in vain.
The scam has exploded into a massive fraud worth crores of rupees, with victims mostly being women from across Kerala. By Wednesday, thousands of people, including Sindhu, had filed complaints at local police stations in various districts. Over 10 FIRs have been filed in districts like Kannur, Ernakulam, and Idukki, and the number of complaints continues to grow by the hour.
Ananthu Krishnan, aged 28, has emerged as the central figure behind this large-scale scam. He was arrested by the Muvattupuzha police on January 31, after multiple cases were registered against him. According to police officials, Krishnan is accused of cheating victims under the pretense of accessing CSR funds for purchasing products at discounted rates. These promises were never fulfilled. Krishnan is currently in judicial remand, and the police are preparing to submit a request to question him in custody. Ernakulam Rural SP Vaibhav Saxena confirmed that Krishnan had been booked under sections 316 and 317 of the BNS for cheating and criminal breach of trust. Police have also frozen at least two of his bank accounts containing ₹4 crore.
Lali Vincent, a senior Congress leader and Krishnan’s legal advisor, has also been named in an FIR filed in Kannur district. Vincent, however, has denied any wrongdoing on Krishnan's part, claiming that he might have been misled by others who backed out of the deal.
According to police sources, Krishnan started a society called Muvattupuzha Socio-Economic and Environmental Development Society and lured victims by claiming to have access to CSR funds from large companies. These funds would allegedly be used to purchase bulk orders of two-wheelers, laptops, and essential household items, which would then be sold to marginalized groups at half the price. However, many victims have reported that they either received nothing or were given substandard products. In total, 62 such seed societies were established across various local panchayats, blocks, and districts.
The investigation into this scam is expanding and is likely to be handed over to the Economic Offences Wing of the Crime Branch. Complaints have been pouring in from across the state, and police are focusing on recovering the stolen money.
Sindhu, the chef from Kannur, shared her frustration: “I had pawned my gold to pay for the scooter. I just want my money back,” she stated. The police plan to distribute the money from Krishnan’s frozen accounts to the victims.
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