Kerala Police uncover Statewide two-wheeler scam linked to fake CSR funds

Major scam involving fake CSR funds, offering discounted two-wheelers, leads to multiple arrests and FIRs in Kerala districts.

A petition forwarded to the Ernakulam Rural police in Kerala from the Chief Minister’s office (CMO) and something that initially appeared to be one of those routine cases has turned out to be part of a major scam with Statewide ramifications, with cases now registered in Ernakulam, Alappuzha, Idukki and Kannur districts.

Petitioners, it has emerged, were offered two-wheelers for half the market price by the accused who claimed to have access to the corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds of large companies. Though initially many received the two-wheelers, soon the promises began to fall apart and investors started lodging complaints.

The Muvattupuzha police, which registered the first case, has arrested one Anandu Krishnan, 26, of Idukki, as an accused in three cases. The police have sought the custody of the accused who has been remanded in judicial custody.

“The accused pretended to be the national coordinator of an NGO federation. He claimed that since the collective placed bulk orders, huge discounts were available from two-wheeler manufacturers and that CSR funds of big companies for women empowerment also helped. However, he never had access to any such CSR funds,” said the police sources.

The Ernakulam Rural police alone have registered 8 FIRs on as many complaints of cheating amounting to around ₹1 lakh each. Apart from the Muvattupuzha police, cases have been registered in Vazhakkulam and Kothamangalam police stations as well.

Two-wheelers were actually given to many at half the price using the money collected from the victims, which further helped to convince and draw in more potential victims. Advertisement blitzkriegs, word-of-mouth publicity and big-ticket events featuring eminent personalities and supported by voluntary organisations also helped to sell the reliability of the initiative. Even people’s representatives and political party leaders participated in such events inadvertently.

The police said that while the case registered by the Ernakulam Rural police have only one accused, in whose names the bank accounts were found to be operated, the chances of more people being involved could not be ruled out. For instance, the case registered in Idukki has multiple accused.