Nursing recruitment: CBI arraigns Uthup Varghese as third accused

KOCHI: The CBI Friday submitted a report at the special CBI court in Kochi after naming Uthup Varghese, native of Puthupally in Kottayam, as the main accused in the case of embezzling an amount of Rs 3.5 crore in the name of nursing recruitment in Kuwait.  

The CBI asserted that Uthup has a crucial role in the misappropriation.  The report says that he has amassed millions under the Al Zarafa Agency. The CBI informed the court that he is trying to influence the witnesses.

Protector of Emigrants and Adolfus Lawrence of Kollam are arraigned as the first accused and Al Zarafa Travel and Manpower Consultants as the second accused.

As per government norms, Rs 19,500 was to be paid as service charge for getting recruited to companies in Kuwait. But, Al Zarafa is alleged to have charged as much as Rs 19.5 lakh from each candidate. An investigation conducted by the CBI revealed that the fraud was committed with the knowledge of Adolfus.

Uthup has amassed an amount of Rs 230 crores. The CBI has obtained some statements on the conspiracy of Adolfus with Uthup for recruiting nurses. The CBI is likely to seek support from Interpol to bring Uthup, who is in Kuwait, to Kerala.

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