When the enlightened Malayalee gets fooled again
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Financial fraud is rampant everywhere, undermining Malayali's sense of awareness and destroying peace. It is a common sight to see all kinds of people, from the poor, the rich, the educated, the uneducated, men and women flocking towards these enticing schemes like moths to a fire. These types of scams challenge not only the state's financial system but also the public's sense of security. Thousands of people have been scammed by promises of scooters, laptops, and sewing machines at half the price. The fact that those who lost money and honour included public representatives, social activists, and local advocacy groups increases the range and seriousness of the fraud. This incident opens up new types of financial cheating and exposes corruption in the name of women's empowerment and NGOs. A fraud gang led by Anandu Krishnan planned certain investment fictitious schemes to cheat a thousand people at once, in the guise of a voluntary organization system purporting to empower the poor and women. The main perpetrator succeeded in using his wealth of experience in NGO activities and the relationships he gained through it as a tool to win public trust. With the promise that cars and laptops would be delivered within 45 days by making them the recipients of the corporate institutions' CSR fund if they invested half the money, he was able to bait and lure a wide range of people including public representatives and officials, along with ordinary people.
That fact that those involved were able to establish a relationship with the leaders including the Prime Minister, then the ones behind the mastermind will be no ordinary folks. Pictures of the ring master standing with the Prime Minister were circulating on social media and walls across the country. In many places, NGOs have been established under names that are confused with official agencies, creating an environment that is conducive to fraud. The Ernakulam district program of the outfit was inaugurated in 2014 by Union Minister and BJP leader Shobha Karandlaje. The main promoters were NGOs overseen by BJP state vice-president AN Radhakrishnan and Congress leader Laly Vincent. MLAs and local people's representatives participated in the inaugural programmes. As a result of such publicity, many people have been cheated and more than 1100 crores of rupees have been swindled very easily. This incident casts doubt on even NGOs genuinely working for the upliftment of the poor and women. This scam also shows that there are many ways to misuse CSR funds that should be used for public good. Public representatives who are overly eager to take advantage of promises of charity without considering the ramifications or the consequences of such promises are a prime target for large-scale fraud. The victims of the Wayanad landslide and plantation workers have been deceived into believing that this is a government scheme. Therefore, the government should not handle this issue as just an ordinary financial crime.
The government should be prepared to take action in light of the seriousness of this scam, which has cost the credibility of the government and the financial institutions. It also needs to be mentioned that the lenient approach adopted by the government in financial embezzlement cases is what is making Kerala a favourite destination for such criminals. If we examine some of the cases so far, it can be seen that almost all the fraudsters have sprung up and spread under the shadow of some political or community leader. Even if accusations and counter-accusations are made by parties and front, there is a discernible unity in this matter. Even if it is made clear that there is every possibility that the people may be deceived, the police will remain silent. Finally, it is only when the complaints pile up and the news fills the media, as has happened now, that administrations intervene and take marginal measures. There are countless examples of criminals who come out as public anger cools down and then resort to new scams to loot people. In short, there is no chance that the current scam will be the last. The main target groups of this scam are students who are hoping to get laptops and mobile phones for their studies, women who are hoping to get two-wheelers as a means to become self-reliant, and victims of the Wayanad landslide. The government ought to have the courage to recover the money that was stolen from them and take tough measures against the culprits.