Kerala Man Arrested For Duping People Of Rs 20 Crore Under Guise Of Providing Them Scooters In Half Price

Kochi police have arrested a 26-year-old man, Ananthu Krishnan, for allegedly defrauding people across Kerala of several crores by falsely promising to provide scooters, home appliances, and other electronics at half price.

Since 2022, Krishnan had been claiming that he could offer two-wheelers, sewing machines, and other goods at reduced rates using Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds from major companies, a senior police officer in Muvattupuzha told news agency PTI.

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Krishnan is already facing multiple cases of fraud and criminal breach of trust in Muvattupuzha and Idukki. This latest case, filed against him and six others-including Congress leader Lali Vincent-was registered in Kannur for similar offences.

"Like a son" to Congress' Lali Vincent

The case was launched following more than 400 complaints related to transactions made through the NGO Sardar Patel Institute of Advanced Research and Developmental Studies (SPIARDS), where Vincent is named as a legal advisor.

Defending Krishnan, Vincent told reporters in Kochi that she did not believe he was capable of committing such a fraud. "He is like a son to me," she said.

She claimed Krishnan was being scapegoated after those who initially promised to secure CSR funds abandoned him. "In desperation, he did some things," Vincent stated, adding that Krishnan had, in fact, provided many families with two-wheelers, sewing machines, and other appliances.

Vincent acknowledged that she worked as a legal advisor and lawyer for SPIARDS and Krishnan, drafting several agreements for them. "I was paid legal fees for my work," she clarified.

However, according to the police complaint, none of the promised scooters were delivered, PTI reported.

Meanwhile, members of the Seed Society, mostly women, gathered outside Kannur police station to accuse their secretary of cheating them and demanded action.

Speaking to a local TV channel, they said they had deposited money after seeing others receive discounted laptops, sewing machines, water tanks, water purifiers, and food kits.

How the fraud worked

A senior police official revealed Krishnan's strategy, explaining that he had set up an organisation called the Muvattupuzha Socio-Economic Development Society. He then convinced its members to deposit money into a consultancy he founded, promising that he could secure them half-priced two-wheelers.

Krishnan also reportedly established multiple consultancies in his own name and made financial transactions through them.

He misled people into believing he was the national coordinator of the National NGO Federation and claimed he was in charge of managing CSR funds from various Indian companies, the police officer explained.

"Investigation revealed that around ₹9 crore was defrauded from Muvattupuzha in this way," the officer said, adding that Krishnan had replicated this scheme across the state by setting up societies in every administrative block and collecting money through 62 so-called "seed societies."

Based on cases registered in Muvattupuzha and Idukki, police estimate that Krishnan swindled over ₹20 crore from unsuspecting victims.

Authorities believe the total amount could be even higher. "The amount of the swindled money is expected to increase," the officer noted.

Police are also investigating the involvement of certain political figures in the scam.

Notably, many of the companies Krishnan claimed were providing CSR funds were unaware of his fraudulent activities. During interrogation, the accused reportedly admitted that he had not received a single rupee in CSR funds from any company.

(With PTI inputs)