Kharibari, 25th February: As many as 54 people from Kharibari and Naxalbari allegedly fell victim to a fraud after being lured with promises of a new battery-operated scooty and a lucrative monthly salary upon joining a private scooty company.
The incident took place at Dudhgate area along the Indo-Nepal border in Kharibari. According to reports, the company had opened a branch in the area around two years ago and began recruiting scooty sales personnel around three months back, offering attractive incentives including a new scooty upon joining.
Several recruits were provided scooties and some reportedly received initial payments. However, it was later alleged that loans had been taken in the names of the recruits for the vehicles without their full knowledge. Instead of receiving salaries, Equated Monthly Instalments (EMIs) are now allegedly being deducted from their bank accounts.
Following complaints lodged at the Panitanki Outpost under Kharibari Police Station, police arrested the manager of the scooty company’s Dudhgate branch, identified as Aryan Singh, a resident of Maharashtra. He was produced before the Siliguri Sub-Divisional Court, and an investigation into the alleged fraud is underway.