The Gopalapuram police has launched a hunt for Francis Xavier of Assets Tours and Travels for cheating Christian pilgrims on a trip to the Holy land. Gopalapuram inspector of police P. Shiva Bhaskar said, “We are issuing a lookout notice for Xavier and all international airports have been alerted.”
With the intervention of the government, the 64 pilgrims have reached Delhi. They will reach Hyderabad on Wednesday. Chief secretary Pankaj Dwivedi on Tuesday held a review meeting with North Zone DCP Srikanth and special secretary (protocol) N.V. Ramana Reddy. “The travel agent Francis had not sent the required funds to the hotel in Cairo. As a result, the pilgrims were forced to stay outside the hotel. The state government asked the Indian Embassy in Cairo, Egypt to assist them,” said Mr Ramana Reddy, adding, “Two special teams have been formed to arrest the accused and his residence and office are under surveillance.”