Mangaluru: Al-Ikhlas' MD arrested on charge of cheating Umrah aspirants

Mangaluru, Apr 17: K Abdul Khader, the managing director of Mangaluru based Al-Ikhlas Hajj & Umra Tours & Travels', has been arrested by police for allegedly cheating two Umrah pilgrimage aspirants.

A team of police from Udupi district arrested Mr Khader in Mumbai on April 15 and brought him back to Karnataka for further inquiry, sources said.

The action comes months after G Maida Kutty, a resident of Gundmi, and Mohammed Iqbal, a resident of Udupi lodged complaints against Mr Khader with Kota and Udupi town police respectively.

In his complaint, Mr Kutty stated that Mr Khader had taken Rs 8 lakh from him in May 2015 promising to arrange all necessary documents and tickets for his family to go to Saudi Arabia and perform Umrah.

However, Mr Khader did not deliver the promised service on time and he started giving reasons. When Mr Kutty forced Mr Khader to return the money, the latter issued two blank cheques that were dishonoured by the concerned bank.

In a separate complaint, Mr Iqbal, said to be a relative of Mr Kutti, stated that Mr Khader had taken Rs 3.3 lakh from him after promising Umrah pilgrimage.

It is learnt that Mr Khader was found in a lodge in Mumbai. A team of Kotal police led by Brahmavar circle inspector Arun G Nayak and Kota sub inspector Kabbalraj arrested him.

He was produced before a court on Saturday and investigations are on. Police are trying to find out whether the accused had cheated others too.