A couple has been arrested for allegedly duping several unemployed youths on the pretext of providing jobs in airlines based in other countries.
Dharmesh Doshi and his wife Ashu Doshi had floated a company M/s Ventures Overseas Ltd., a consultancy firm and publicised through Internet that their firm could arrange jobs as pilots or other members of cabin crews in airlines based in countries such as Indonesia, Libya, New Guinea, Philippines and Malaysia, said the police.
Two young men approached the police and alleged that after they came to know about the company, they contacted Dharmesh, the CEO of the company, at his office in Pitampura, in August last year.
“Dharmesh met the complainants and induced them for the initial payment as both made payments of over Rs.8 lakh each. In return, he gave them post-dated cheques along with a document of security apart from the normal agreement signed with Venture Overseas. The document of security stated that if he failed to get the LOI (letter of intent) within 90 working days he would return the money without delay,” said Deputy Commissioner of Police (North-West) P. Karunakaran.
Over the next couple of months, the victims were provided assurances about various companies hiring them but they insisted on confirmation through LOI.
“In the meantime, Dharmesh gave the communication details of one Raj Durai (an associate with HUB AIR, based in Belgium) to the complainants. Raj Durai lied to the complainant saying that HUB AIR is approved by the Federal Aviation Administration. The two, however, came to know that HUB AIR was not approved by FAA. The post dated cheques provided by Dharmesh to the complainants were deposited in the bank but came back with stopped payment note after which they decided to approach the police,” said Mr. Karunakaran.
According to the police, another complaint was received from the Ministry of External affairs against Dharmesh and his firm.
“The complaint said that Venture Overseas had allegedly deployed 170 Indians, having technical qualifications or diploma in aircraft maintenance on tourist visas to Malaysia in two batches earlier that year to work with M/s Venture Overseas Consulting Service in Malaysia where the workers were not provided with work permits and were sent to a detention home,” Mr. Karunakaran added.
On January 9, a raid was conducted at the couple’s residence in East Patel Nagar and Ashu was arrested. During the course of investigation, the police found that Dharmesh was in judicial custody in Hyderabad in another case. On January 19, Hyderabad Police produced Dharmesh in a court there on a production warrant following which he was brought to Delhi.
