Nursing recruitment scam: CBI examines Protector of Emigrants

Kochi: The CBI on Monday examined the Protector of Emigrants (PoE), Kochi, a key accused in the nursing recruitment scam, involving crores of rupees.

The Protector of Emigrants (PoE) L Adolfus appeared before the CBI here today," a CBI official said.

The agency has named the PoE in Kochi as the first accused in the scam, relating to recruitment of nurses to the Kuwait Health Ministry.

An FIR was registered last week against Adolfus and recruiting agency Al Zarafa Travels, the second accused in the case.

Adolfus appeared before the CBI today after a court here rejected his anticipatory bail plea in the scam.

Meanwhile, the CBI official said the agency may seek the help of Interpol to bring back another accused Uthup Varghese, who is at present in Kuwait.

"A notice was issued to the owner of the nursing recruitment agency to appear before the CBI today. He has not appeared before the agency so far. In such a situation, we usually take certain steps."

"Since the accused is abroad, we will have to opt laid down procedures to bring him back to the country," the official, who did not want to be named, said when asked if the agency would seek Interpol help to bring him back to the country.

The case relates to financial fraud by a Kochi-based private nursing recruiting agency for recruiting nurses to Kuwait.

The firm had recruited hundreds of nurses in the last one year after collecting Rs 19.50 lakh as fee. The agency was supposed to collect only a service charge of Rs 19,500.

The recruitment firm is also accused of forcing the applicants, who gave the money, to give in writing that they had collected only the mandatory service charge of Rs 19,500.

CBI started probing the case after Income Tax department officials during a raid at the recruitment agency, found large amounts of unaccounted money.

The recruitment agency had been awarded a deal to recruit over 1,000 nurses to Kuwait.