CHENNAI: A 52-year-old former Airports Authority of India official has been arrested for allegedly duping 12 cargo vehicle drivers and their families of ₹23 lakh after falsely promising permanent positions at Chennai International Airport. Police identified the accused as Kumari Kala, a resident of Malaipattu near Sriperumbudur in Kancheepuram district, who previously served as a senior superintendent with the authority. Investigators stated that she took voluntary retirement in 2025 and subsequently started operating air cargo vehicles on a contract basis.
Influence Peddled to Cargo Vehicle Drivers
Investigators said Kala continued visiting the airport cargo premises after stepping down from service. During these visits, she allegedly represented herself as a senior airport official and claimed to possess the contacts and influence needed to secure permanent roles for young candidates across airport and cargo establishments. Her propositions primarily targeted cargo vehicle operators seeking employment opportunities for their educated children.
Believing her representations, 12 drivers and their relatives paid sums ranging between ₹1 lakh and ₹2 lakh per candidate, yielding a total collection of ₹23 lakh. Victims were assured that the payments would guarantee stable, well-paid appointments. However, several months elapsed without any appointment orders or confirmation letters being delivered to the candidates.
Airport Enquiries Reveal Voluntary Retirement
Suspicion arose among the families after they waited approximately six months without receiving official correspondence. The victims then approached airport authorities directly to verify the status of the recruitment process. During these interactions, they discovered that Kala was no longer an employee of the Airports Authority of India, having taken voluntary retirement a year earlier.
Realising they had been misled, the 12 affected drivers lodged formal police complaints detailing the payments made to the former superintendent. Police registered a case based on these statements and subsequently took Kala into custody. Investigators are reviewing whether financial instruments or forged documentation were handed to the families, while also tracing the destination of the collected funds and verifying if external associates aided the transactions.
Past Service Complaints Come Under Scrutiny
Preliminary inquiries revealed that Kala had faced departmental scrutiny over similar job-related financial allegations even during her active tenure with the authority. Police are examining whether departmental inquiries led to formal sanctions and if additional victims were targeted prior to her retirement.
Authorities reiterated that government recruitments are strictly governed by formal departmental notifications and standard selection procedures. Investigators continue to interrogate the accused to uncover the broader scope of the operation and establish if more job seekers were defrauded through identical assurances.
Follow for daily updates on cybercrime, corporate fraud, DFIR, hacking, investigations, and digital forensics
