The SIT probing the ShadWell’s human trafficking case suspects the education management firm had also undertaken smuggling activities in the guise of educational visits.
Police questioned four men who were caught while trying to go to the US through ShadWell’s, and found it was likely there were more fishy dealings in the firm’s business.
SIT chief Ammos Mammen said the four paid only Rs 1.5 lakh to Tom Baby, the CEO of ShadWell’s. “This was paid as an advance, and they were asked to pay an additional Rs 50,000 after receiving the visa.
Tom Baby, a rich individual, would not take just Rs 2 lakh to facilitate US visa for someone. Chances are high he might be trying to send something through these men,” police said.
The four – of whom two are fishermen, one a tailor and the other painter — were asked to stand in a stall set up by ShadWell’s at an educational conference in the US. The plan of the four was to reach the US, attend the conference, and then stage a disappearance act.