The police have registered a case against Manikya Associates for allegedly carrying out recruitment for foreign firms without having licence under the Emigration Act.
The case was registered suo motu by the Mangaluru North Police following reports on 35 youths from Mangaluru being stranded in Kuwait.
In a video clipping circulated on social media, the youths accused the firm of collecting ₹ 65,000 from each one of them for a job in a firm in Kuwait. They landed in Kuwait this January and since then, have been stranded there.
Police Commissioner Sandeep Patil said that every firm carrying out recruitment for a foreign firm should have licence under the Emigration Act. Prima facie, Manikya Associates does not possess licence and hence, a case has been registered.
Meanwhile, in a statement, Prasad Shetty from Manikya Associates said that the firm only acted as a facilitator for Hawk Consultancy Private Limited, Mumbai, to recruit 58 persons for Aspect Petroleum Services Company, Kuwait. Though it has no link to what happened to the 35 youths from Mangaluru, Mr. Shetty said that the firm, out of humanitarian consideration, is ready to provide all assistance for the safe return of the youths.