In a significant ruling, a court in Berhampur, Odisha, has acquitted S. Sanmukha Rao, owner of Krithika Technical Training Institute, in a case involving allegations of overseas job recruitment fraud. The court held that the prosecution failed to produce sufficient evidence to establish charges of cheating, fraudulent inducement, deception, or human trafficking.
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The case was linked to Krithika Technical Training Institute located in Pitapali village of Chikiti block in Ganjam district. Rao was arrested by Golanthara police on November 13, 2024, following allegations that he was conducting overseas recruitment activities without the required authorization and promising employment opportunities, including welding jobs in Turkey and other countries.
The arrest followed a joint raid carried out by police and officials from the Protector of Emigrants (PoE) office. Investigators had reported finding more than 20 youths at the institute during the operation, allegedly participating in interviews related to overseas employment opportunities. The case originated from a complaint filed by Sunil Kumar Sah of the Bhubaneswar-based PoE office.
However, after examining the evidence and witness testimonies presented during the trial, Second Additional District and Sessions Judge Ayusman Mahanta concluded that the prosecution had failed to establish the essential ingredients required under Sections 318(4) and 143(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
In its observations, the court noted that while the prosecution was able to show that the accused did not possess a valid licence to conduct overseas recruitment activities at the time of the raid, the individuals who were allegedly induced, deceived, or trafficked did not support the prosecution’s allegations during the trial.
The court further observed that the mere conduct of interviews or the presence of job aspirants on the institute premises was not sufficient to establish criminal liability. According to the judgment, serious charges such as cheating or human trafficking require credible and convincing evidence demonstrating deception, fraudulent inducement, or unlawful exploitation.
The ruling also emphasized that in criminal cases, the burden of proving allegations rests with the prosecution, and a person cannot be convicted merely on suspicion. Since the key witnesses did not corroborate the allegations and the prosecution failed to meet the required legal standard of proof, the court acquitted the accused.
The judgment highlights the critical importance of direct evidence and witness testimony in cases involving alleged overseas recruitment fraud and human trafficking. The court underscored that convictions in such matters must be based on reliable, legally admissible, and convincing evidence rather than assumptions or unsubstantiated allegations.
With the acquittal, the court concluded that the prosecution had not succeeded in proving the charges beyond reasonable doubt, leading to the discharge of the accused from the criminal proceedings.
