Anand man arrested for duping 32 of Rs 93L with fake Russia jobs

Vadodara: The Local Crime Branch (LCB) of Anand district have arrested a man accused of duping 32 job seekers from Gujarat by promising them employment and work permits in Russia and allegedly collecting nearly Rs 93 lakh from them before leaving them stranded abroad.

The accused, Rimpalkumar Arvindbhai Patel (36) of Sundara village in Petlad taluka, was arrested following a complaint registered at Petlad Rural police station. He allegedly promised jobs in Russia with monthly salaries of around Rs 1.3 lakh and collected approximately Rs 2.9 lakh from each applicant towards visa processing, travel, and recruitment expenses. The victims belong to several districts, including Anand, Vadodara, Navsari, and Surat.

After reaching Russia, many victims found that the jobs and conditions promised to them did not materialise. Some reported poor living and working conditions, while others alleged that their passports were withheld and that they were asked to pay additional amounts to facilitate their return to India.

Investigators, however, said the case involves complex contractual and employment-related issues that are still being examined. "We are trying to establish the exact nature of the recruitment process and employment arrangements," said LCB police inspector C P Chaudhary.

Around 20 workers are believed to be still in Russia, police said. Preliminary findings suggest that some were recruited for jobs such as tailoring and work in fishing companies, and that most travelled under formal employment agreements valid for two years, which reportedly included provisions for accommodation and travel expenses upon completion of the contract.

Police are also looking into allegations that workers were required to pay additional sums, including US$ 500 and, in some cases, nearly one lakh Russian rubles, and are scrutinising documents and financial transactions to determine whether such payments were authorised under contractual terms.

Several workers have since returned to Gujarat and approached police with complaints, prompting the LCB to launch a detailed investigation. Police have appealed to anyone who travelled to Russia through Kiyana Recruitment Private Limited, or who has information related to the case, to come forward.

An offence has been registered under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and investigation was ongoing to determine the full extent of criminal liability and identify other individuals involved in the recruitment process.