The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : 17 professionals file job racket complaint

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Feb 16, 2006

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

17 professionals file job racket complaint

Staff Reporter

CHENNAI: Seventeen professionals petitioned the Greater Chennai Police Commissioner R. Nataraj on Wednesday, alleging that they had been cheated by a manpower agency in the city.

One of the complainants, M.A. Binu, an electronics engineer, said he paid Charles, who runs the agency, Merits Associates, in Shastri Nagar, Adyar Rs. 1.55 lakh in July 2004. He said Charles had promised him a visa to the U.K. under the Highly Skilled Migration Programme category.

Another complainant said that after taking the money, Charles had said it would take at least six months to get them placements in London. He said that he had paid the money to Charles after verifying that he ran another agency in Middlesex in the United Kingdom.

After waiting six months, the complainants approached Charles who asked them to wait for some more time. But, suddenly, three months ago Charles closed down the Shastri Nagar office.

The 17 complainants had paid Rs. 27 lakh to Charles.

Mr. Binu said that Charles may have taken money from more than 50 people.

All attempts to meet Charles had proved futile, Mr. Binu said, and added that they had only been able to talk with him over the phone.

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