Kottayam: A police inspector and a woman accomplice were arrested for allegedly swindling crores of rupees by offering overseas jobs on Wednesday. 

The individuals arrested are C.T. Sanjay (47) from Changanassery, a suspended police inspector from the Thoppumpady station in Ernakulam, and Preethi Mathew (50) from Appakottamuri in Thuruthikkad, Mallappally, the owner of Canassure Consultancy Services in Kottayam.

A team, led by Kottayam West police inspector K R Prasanth Kumar, arrested the duo from a hideout at Kodagu in Karnataka.

Police were searching for Preethi when they found the inspector staying with her. Sanjay had reportedly developed a relationship with Preethi while working as an inspector at the Keezhuvaipur police station in Pathanamthitta. They later became partners in the fraudulent scheme.

Following complaints from more victims, District Police chief A Shahooul Hameed handed over the investigation to the Crime Branch. The arrest was recorded based on a case registered by Kottayam West police, and further investigation is now being led by Kottayam Crime Branch DYSP Saju Varghese.

There are 14 cases registered against the institution in Kottayam district alone, with similar complaints lodged in Wayanad, Alappuzha, Thiruvananthapuram and Ernakulam.

It was found during the investigation that the inspector had misused his position to facilitate the fraud. Evidence of financial transactions from Preethi's account to Sanjay's account, along with records of frequent phone calls between the two, have been collected.

Her consultancy firm allegedly accepted large sums of money from several people, promising overseas jobs, including in Europe, despite not holding a recruitment licence.

Preethi initially set up the institution as a tuition centre in Kottayam. The accused allegedly intimidated several job seekers using the inspector's influence.

In one case, they allegedly took Rs 8.6 lakh from a girl from Thalappalam, promising a job in the UK. They also collected Rs 7 lakh and the title deed of 28 cents of land from a Secretariat employee. The deed was later pledged to obtain more money, and the property is currently facing attachment proceedings.

Police suspect the duo committed similar frauds in various places. Nine cases are registered at Kottayam West police station, while five in other stations.