A day after a 28-year-old Granthi from Hawas village attempted a suicide bid by consuming poison during live streaming on Facebok claiming that he was cheated of ₹18 lakh on the pretext of being sent to Spain for employment, the Meharban Police on Wednesday lodged an FIR against four accused for cheating.
The victim alleged that he was forced to sleep on the roads in Spain and struggled for food. He managed to return to India after spending a little money he was carrying with him.
The police have booked Surinder Pal Singh, Jagpal Singh alias Jagga, Kuldeep Singh alias Soni – residents of Hawas village and Simran Singh of Rajpura.
According to his statement, the accused approached him in April this year while he was serving as a Granthi at a village gurdwara. They allegedly introduced him to an immigration network and assured him that he would be sent to Spain, where a company job, accommodation and other facilities would be arranged for him.
Believing their assurances, he paid ₹18 lakh, including ₹15.5 lakh in cash, which he claims was collected from his residence. He also deposited the remaining amount into a bank account as directed by the accused.
However, instead of being sent to Spain as promised, the complainant said he was issued a visa for Bulgaria and flown there. Once he reached Bulgaria, he repeatedly contacted the accused and reminded them of their promise to send him to Spain and arrange employment. According to him, the assurances soon turned into excuses.
{{/usCountry}}However, instead of being sent to Spain as promised, the complainant said he was issued a visa for Bulgaria and flown there. Once he reached Bulgaria, he repeatedly contacted the accused and reminded them of their promise to send him to Spain and arrange employment. According to him, the assurances soon turned into excuses.
{{/usCountry}}The victim alleged that after persistent requests and intervention by his family, he was eventually moved onwards towards Spain without arranging a valid Visa. But the promised job never materialised. He claimed that once he reached Europe, the accused stopped answering his calls, leaving him without support, accommodation or a source of income.
With no one to help him and no work arranged, the victim said he spent several nights sleeping on roads and public places, struggling to arrange food and shelter. Unable to sustain himself, he used the little money he had left to purchase a ticket and return to India.
Upon returning to his village, the victim approached the village panchayat seeking justice. He alleged that the accused were summoned but instead of resolving the matter, they insulted him and his family before walking out of the meeting.
He alleged that before his departure, the accused had obtained a signed cheque from him as security. He claimed that the cheque was later misused and the amount altered, adding to his financial distress.
The complainant alleged that the accused not only cheated him financially but also pushed him into a situation where he was left homeless in a foreign country and forced to fend for himself on the streets. He said the trauma and financial losses drove him to attempt suicide.
ASI Gurmeet Singh stated that an FIR under sections 318 (4) and 61 (2) of the BNS has been lodged against the accused. More sections could be added in the FIR as the investigation will progress.