Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (SHS)

Mangalore, May 30: The Barke police have succeeded in nabbing Kerala-based Pradeep Nayar (40), the prime accused in a major scam wherein 58 nurses where allegedly cheated with fake promises of jobs in Singapore.

Pradeep was arrested while he was attempting to flee to Kerala on Thursday, May 29.

It is alleged that the by travel agency operated by him had collected money from the nurses on promises of offering them jobs in Singapore.

DHRC Tours and Travels, operating from a building at Ballal Bagh here, had published an advertisement in a Kerala newspaper saying that a hospital in Singapore was in need of nurses. Following this, 58 candidates had applied through DHRC.

An interview was arranged for the candidates and DHRC instructed them to pay a sum of Rs 3 lac in three installments. As many as 56 candidates had paid Rr 2 lac to the agency.

The candidates however, did not receive visas and flight tickets as promised. When confronted, DHRC agency reportedly refused to pay back their money. The candidates then filed a complaint in this regard in Barke police station.

Pradeep who was arrested by the police, was working as the manager at DHRC. The police said the money paid as fees was not in the possession of Pradeep. It is suspected that he has handed over the money to other accused in the case.

The other accused in the case, proprietor of DHRC Mohammad Ali, staff Augustine, Afzal and Prameela are said to be absconding. A search for them is on.