The police are actively searching for a resident of Mumbra and his associates who have deceived numerous unemployed youths by falsely promising them employment in Mecca and Madina, Saudi Arabia, during the Hajj season. The accused individuals cannot be located at present, and the police have launched an investigation into the matter.
Salman Yusuf Khan lodged a complaint at the Mumbra police station to reclaim the money defrauded from the youths. The police are currently probing the precise amount cheated and the number of complainants affected by the fraud before officially registering a First Information Report (FIR).
Salman Yusuf Khan said, “The man resides in Mumbra, and his associates are from Bangalore and Dubai”. “They organised a meeting in Mumbra where we were assured jobs in Mecca and Madina for four months before and after Ramzan to assist with the Hajj pilgrimage. We were promised approximately 2200 Riyals (48,980) per month. I agreed because I have a family to sup- port, and as Muslims, we saw this as an opportunity to serve in a sacred place.”
Salman Yusuf Khan mentioned that the youths initially paid Rs 11,000 for registration and Rs 35,000 later for visas. However, after receiving the money, the fraudster ceased responding to their calls. There is a significant demand for service providers to support pilgrims travelling to Mecca for Hajj.
Shanu Pathan, the former opposition leader of Thane Municipal Corporation from NCP and a resident of Mumbra, has received complaints from 968 individuals who have been victims of this fraud.
“An agency from Bengaluru sends service providers to Saudi Arabia in this manner. For this, they charge around Rs 65,000 as commission from each unemployed youth,” Shanu Pathan said.
Shaanu Pathan assembled a group of 300 affected youths and took them to the Mumbra Police Station. He urged the authorities to help them file complaints against the perpetrators of the fraud.
The Mumbra police said, “We have begun investigating the matter and will proceed with filing charges and registration of the case once we get all the complainant’s details. The process is going on.”
