Bihar man held for ₹50-crore school fund fraud in Kerala
Kollam police arrested a Bihar native for allegedly defrauding two Kozhikode businessmen of ₹10.25 lakh and stealing ₹2 lakh, promising a ₹50-crore school project.
Kollam West police have arrested a 39-year-old Bihar native accused of defrauding two Kozhikode-based businessmen with promises of a ₹50-crore fund to set up schools across Kerala.
The accused, identified as Ashwani Kumar Singh, a resident of Senturi Govindam in Vaishali district, allegedly convinced the businessmen that he could secure the project funding. Believing his claims, the victims transferred ₹10.25 lakh to his bank account as an initial processing fee.
Singh later invited the complainants to a lodge in Kollam for further discussions. During their stay, he allegedly stole ₹2 lakh in cash the businessmen had brought, switched off his phone, and fled. He reportedly planned to travel to Coimbatore and board a flight back to Bihar.
Following a formal complaint, a special team led by Kollam West Inspector Vipin A.C. tracked the suspect's movements toward Tamil Nadu. Coordinating with Coimbatore railway police, the team intercepted and arrested Singh before he could proceed further.
The accused has been brought back to Kollam, where further legal proceedings and interrogation are underway.