The Punjab and Haryana High Court has expressed alarm over the growing prevalence of frauds luring individuals with false promises of overseas employment or education in return for substantial sums of money.

“This court is conscious of the growing prevalence of such rackets and the urgent need to adopt a stringent approach to deter such conduct,” Justice Sandeep Moudgil said dealing with a plea for anticipatory bail in a cheating case registered at the Nawanshahr Sadar police station.

The court observed that people were being defrauded by agents and touts operating outside the regulatory framework, often leaving victims stranded, penniless or even in legal peril abroad.

“Unsuspecting individuals are often lured with promises of overseas employment or education, and are made to part with substantial life savings,” the court observed.

“In many instances, victims are either left stranded, defrauded, or worse find themselves in legal peril in foreign jurisdictions,” it added.

The observations came in a case where the petitioner had allegedly collected Rs 15 lakh from a complainant on the pretext of arranging immigration and had later sent one of the complaints’ son to Ukraine and another individual to Moscow— contrary to the assurances given.

Holding that the allegations were serious and specific, the Bench noted that “prima facie, the petitioner actively participated in the financial transaction and being the initial custodian of the defrauded amount, cannot be permitted to evade investigation”.

The court added that his role was not peripheral or incidental. “He is not a mere bystander or an incidental link in the transaction, but a direct recipient of a large sum of money, which was allegedly collected under false pretences… His custodial interrogation is necessary to ascertain the full extent of the conspiracy and to trace the funds.”

The court also dismissed the contention that the petitioner’s willingness to join investigation was a ground for relief.

“The mere contention that the petitioner is ready and willing to join the investigation does not vest a right for grant him anticipatory bail because an element of cheating is involved in it,” Justice Moudgil said.