Couple arrested for duping

The Ernakulam Crime Branch Economic Offences Wing arrested a couple on charges of duping many persons after promising jobs at Apollo Tyres, Perambra.

Vijayan, 60, of Kattunkal Veedu, Malayattoor, and his wife Gopika, 45, were arrested from Davangare in Karnataka where they had been hiding for the last seven years. Vijayan was a daily collection agent at Co-operative Bank, Neeleeswaram, Malayatoor and Gopika was the Mahila Pradhan daily savings collection agent with Malayattoor Post Office.

They promised to get job placements in Apollo Tyres and collected Rs.1.5 lakh each from nearly 25 people in 2003 and went into hiding after that, said the police.