Kerala Police have detained the CEO of an overseas recruitment and immigration business in connection with two cases alleging that job seekers were cheated of around ₹10 lakh after being promised employment in Poland and Armenia.
Parvathy Maya Shaji, associated with Amster Overseas Private Limited and Amster Immigration Overseas, was intercepted at Thiruvananthapuram airport on September 24 after arriving from abroad. Police had issued a lookout notice after cases were registered at Palarivattom police station in Kochi.
Police said she was being taken to Kochi for further proceedings. The allegations remain under investigation and have not been established by a court.
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₹4 lakh allegedly collected for Armenia job
The first case concerns a man from Erumapetty in Thrissur who was allegedly promised employment in Armenia carrying a monthly salary of ₹1.5 lakh.
According to the FIR details reported by Manorama, the complainant paid around ₹4 lakh in December 2023. The promised employment was allegedly not arranged and the money was not returned.
The man’s wife later approached an Ernakulam court seeking action.
The complaint also alleges that when she demanded a refund, she was threatened with being defamed through social media.
Following court directions, police registered a case against seven accused, including Parvathy Maya Shaji, her husband Aneesh Menon and several people described as managers or employees of the agency.
Poland applicant allegedly sent to Serbia instead
The second case involves a man from the Kunnathunad area who was allegedly offered a warehouse job in Poland.
Police say he paid ₹4.96 lakh in different instalments between July 2023 and February 2025, along with another ₹1.10 lakh towards an air ticket.
Instead of being sent to Poland for the promised employment, the complainant alleges that he was sent to Serbia.
Parvathy Maya Shaji, general manager Aju K. Mathew, coordinator Abhijith S. Nair and the recruitment entity have been named in that case, according to the report.
Police are examining the movement of the money, recruitment documents, visa arrangements and the role of different employees involved in processing the overseas placements.
Licence issue requires a closer look
The cases also raise an important question over recruitment authorisation.
Under the Emigration Act, only recruiting agents registered with the Protector General of Emigrants can legally conduct overseas recruitment from India. The Ministry of External Affairs advises job seekers to verify an agent’s registration through the eMigrate system before making payments.
Police reports concerning the two complaints say the agency involved did not possess the required Protector of Emigrants licence for the relevant recruitment activity.
However, current recruitment records show a separately named entity, AMSTER HR CONSULTANCY, registered under RA ID RA5903279 with Parvathy Maya Shaji as authorised signatory. Its current status is listed as active, and its registration certificate dates to 2024.
That distinction is significant.
The first alleged payment was made in December 2023, while the Poland-related transactions reportedly began in July 2023. Investigators will therefore need to establish which legal entity carried out each recruitment activity, when authorisation existed, and whether the later registration covered the transactions being investigated.
Police expect more complaints may surface
Police told PTI that Shaji had been abroad when the cases were registered and that Bureau of Immigration officials detained her after she returned to India.
Investigators are also checking whether similar complaints have been registered at other police stations. Officials said more people could come forward following the arrest.
Amster-related businesses have operated from multiple locations in Kerala and have advertised overseas jobs, migration assistance and study-abroad services.
Police will now examine whether the present allegations concern isolated transactions or form part of a wider pattern.
Overseas job seekers should verify both recruiter and employer
The Ministry of External Affairs advises applicants to check not only whether the recruiting agent is registered, but also whether the foreign employer and job offer are genuine.
Applicants should independently confirm the employer, salary, employment contract and visa category before handing over money, passports or certificates. Complaints against illegal or unregistered recruiting agents can also be submitted through eMigrate.
The Kerala cases illustrate why the exact destination and visa category matter.
Being sent to a country different from the one promised in an employment agreement can expose workers to immigration problems, loss of money and situations where the promised job simply does not exist.
What this means for you: Before paying an overseas recruiter, verify the exact legal name and current registration on eMigrate, not merely the brand name displayed on an office or social-media page. Confirm the foreign employer and visa category independently before travelling.
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