An alleged investment fraud exceeding ₹10 crore has surfaced in Karnataka’s Haveri district, where more than 1,000 women were reportedly lured with promises of work-from-home employment and regular income. SLV Mahila Mart and Marketing has been accused of collecting investments ranging from ₹25,000 to ₹10 lakh by offering home-based incense stick and camphor packing work. According to the allegations, the company initially paid returns to investors before its operators allegedly disappeared, leaving hundreds of families in financial distress.
Addressing a press conference, Manjunath, who heads an association representing the victims, alleged that the company promised women home-based packing work along with a fixed monthly income linked to the amount they invested. Investors were also assured profit-sharing based on the size of their deposits. Trusting these assurances, many women invested their savings and family funds in the scheme.
According to the complaint, the company made regular payments for the first three to four months to build confidence among investors. However, the payments allegedly stopped abruptly, and the operators became unreachable. Victims claim the scheme was designed from the outset to gain public trust, collect substantial investments, and then cease operations.
Victims say several families invested ₹5 lakh or more in the hope of supplementing their household income. The scheme is believed to have operated for nearly nine months, affecting more than 1,000 women. They estimate that the total amount involved in the alleged fraud could exceed ₹10 crore.
A complaint was lodged at the Haveri Town Police Station on July 13. However, according to the victims, no arrests have been made so far, and they remain dissatisfied with the pace of the investigation. They have urged authorities to expedite the probe and help recover the money allegedly lost in the scheme.
The victims’ association also alleged that several women pawned their gold jewellery without informing their husbands in order to invest in the promised business opportunity. Following the alleged collapse of the scheme, many families reportedly faced severe financial hardship. The association claimed that some women experienced such extreme mental distress that they contemplated suicide, although timely counselling reportedly prevented them from taking any extreme step. The group warned that further tragedies could occur if swift action is not taken.
The complaint names Vinayak Anaveri, Ramya G, Viresh Anaveri, Ramya Viresh Anaveri, Jayashree Anaveri, and Manjunath Anaveri as accused. Police are examining the allegations and reviewing financial transactions, investment records, and the company’s business activities as part of the ongoing investigation.
According to the Future Crime Research Foundation, investment and work-from-home fraud schemes typically lure victims with promises of low-risk employment, guaranteed monthly income, and unusually high returns. Fraudsters often make initial payments to establish credibility before collecting larger investments and discontinuing payouts. Experts advise individuals to independently verify a company’s registration, regulatory compliance, business model, and financial credibility before investing money or joining any employment-linked investment scheme. They also caution against making investment decisions based solely on promises of attractive returns or easy income.
