Kerala: Man arrested for falsely offering items at half price; cheating people of crores

A 26-year-old man, Ananthu Krishnan, has been arrested in Kochi for allegedly defrauding people across Kerala of several crores by falsely offering scooters, home appliances, and electronics at half price. He claimed these discounts were made possible through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds from major companies.

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According to police, Krishnan had been running the scam since 2022, convincing buyers that they could purchase two-wheelers and household items at significantly reduced rates. Many victims paid him large sums but never received the promised products.

Krishnan already faces multiple cheating and criminal breach of trust cases in Muvattupuzha and Idukki. In this latest case, registered in Kannur, six others, including Congress leader Lali Vincent, have also been named as accused for their alleged involvement in the fraud.

Authorities are now investigating the scale of the scam and the total number of victims. Police are also probing how Krishnan built credibility and whether more individuals were part of the scheme.

This incident highlights the rising number of financial frauds in Kerala, with officials urging the public to be cautious of unrealistic offers. Investigations are ongoing, and more arrests may follow as the case unfolds.