Two police officers suspended over probe lapses in overseas recruitment fraud case

Two police officers suspended over probe lapses in overseas recruitment fraud case

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, May 20, 2025: Police Commissioner Anupam Agrawal has suspended Police Inspector G.C. Somashekar of Mangaluru East Police Station and Police Sub Inspector M.N. Umesh Kumar of Barke Police Station, citing lapses in the investigation into the alleged fraudulent operations of overseas job recruitment agency Hireglow Elegant Overseas International Private Limited.

Mangaluru East Police registered a case of fraudulent operations based on the complaint filed by Avaneesh Shukla, Protector of Emigrants (PoE), Ministry of External Affairs, Bengaluru.

In the complaint filed on December 31, 2024, Mr. Shukla said Hireglow Elegant Overseas Private Limited in Bendoorwell, Mangaluru, without necessary registration with the Ministry of External Affairs, was conducting interviews for overseas jobs. The agency was unauthorisedly collecting passports of job aspirants, operating in violation of provisions of the Emigration Act. The police registered the case under Sections 10 and 24 of the Emigration Act.

In a statement on Monday, Mr. Agrawal said Mr. Somashekar failed to take appropriate legal action against the firm. The official’s inaction and lack of supervision allowed the accused to continue defrauding over 200 job aspirants of over ₹1.82 crore.

The Police Commissioner said Mr. Kumar, who was the investigation officer of the case while posted at Mangaluru East Police Station, failed to arrest the accused, collect vital evidence, examine victims and witnesses, and act on financial leads. Thus, Mr. Kumar seriously compromised the investigation of the case.

Mr. Agrawal said both officials demonstrated negligence, irresponsibility, and breach of duty. Departmental disciplinary proceedings have been initiated against them.

Talking to reporters in Mangaluru recently, Mr. Shukla said there was an increase in the number of unregistered agencies defrauding aspirants with overseas jobs. He urged aspirants to verify the legitimacy of the recruitment agency, either from the nearest PoE or from www.emigrate.gov.in, before engaging with the agency. Affected job aspirants can email poebengaluru@mea.gov.in or helpline@mea.gov.in or call the 24x7 toll-free helpline 1800-11-3090.