Police quiz cashier of firm accused of cheating job-seekers

Police today questioned a cashier of a consultancy firm here that allegedly cheated about 400 people, mostly from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, to the tune of Rs 1.5 crore by promising them jobs overseas.
"We picked up the cashier of the firm, Pacific Zone, today. She is being questioned and we hope her interrogation will lead us to the main accused, Shailesh Gawde," a police officer said.
Police also conducted a search today at the firm's office in suburban Kandivali.
The case came to light two days ago when several complainants gathered at Kandivali police station and demanded that Gawde should be immediately arrested.

The firm had put out an advertisement in leading dailies of UP and Bihar about jobs as carpenter, electrician and painters in Singapore and South Africa some six months ago.
The firm charged the applicants Rs 80,000 for placement in Singapore and Rs 30,000 for South Africa.

"I paid them Rs 80,000 for a job in Singapore. They also charged Rs 5,000 extra for medical test," said Kamlesh Rajbhar, one of the complainants.
"They told me I would be leaving for Singapore on December 28. When I went to their office, it was closed and their phones were switched off. Then I alerted others," he said.

Dharmal, another complainant, said he had applied for electrician's job in South Africa and borrowed the money from a friend to pay the firm its fee of Rs 35,000.
Police have filed a case of cheating under IPC section 420 against Gawde who is on the run.