Over 100 Kerala nurses accused of defrauding Gulf Bank in Kuwait of INR 700 crore
Kochi: More than 100 nurses from Kerala, employed with the Ministry of Health in Kuwait, have been accused of defrauding Gulf Bank of nearly INR 700 crore. The nurses reportedly took large loans from the bank and migrated to countries like Canada, Australia, and several European nations without repaying the amounts.
According to Gulf News, the loans ranged between KD 35,000 and KD 45,000. The bank trusted the borrowers as they had a history of repaying smaller loans on time. However, the situation changed as the nurses allegedly used the funds to secure better opportunities abroad, abandoning their loan obligations. The fraud came to light after the bank noticed delays in repayments and subsequent attempts to recover the dues failed.
Reports from The New Indian Express suggest that around 1,425 nurses may be involved, with some allegedly using the loan amounts to purchase luxury properties in Kerala. The defaulters, primarily from Ernakulam and Kottayam districts, have ceased communication with the bank.
Kerala Police have registered multiple FIRs and are investigating the matter. Statements from some of the accused have been recorded, and authorities are also probing the involvement of agents who may have facilitated the fraud.
Efforts to recover the loans and identify all individuals involved in the alleged scam are underway.
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Bengaluru jail introduces biometric tracking system for prisoners
Bengaluru: In a bid to curb misconduct and illegal activities inside Parappana Agrahara Central Prison, prison authorities have introduced a new ‘Prisoners Tracking Movement System’ under which inmates will have to undergo biometric verification while entering every barrack.
According to jail officials, biometric systems have been installed across all major sections of the prison, including barracks, visitor rooms, hospital, canteen, kitchen, library, playground, handicraft units and bakery sections. Staff members have also been deployed at these locations.
Officials said inmates visiting the visitors’ room must now obtain a digital token after biometric verification. Details such as the prisoner’s name, identification number and entry time will be updated in the prison software system. This will help authorities maintain a complete digital record of inmates visiting and returning from meeting rooms.
Similar systems have also been introduced at entry points of the hospital, library and other barracks accessed for work-related purposes. Officials said the system will help identify prisoners involved in suspicious or illegal activities with other inmates and enable authorities to track how much time a prisoner spends at different locations inside the prison.
Authorities stated that AI-powered cameras were already being used inside the prison to monitor inmates as well as prison staff. Along with this, digital tracking of prisoner phone calls and a digital token system for visitor meetings have now been added to strengthen surveillance over inmate movement. Officials said the project has been implemented at a cost of around Rs 2.25 crore.
The prison department has also introduced a canteen usage tracking system to monitor prisoners’ spending patterns. Instead of direct cash payments, inmates can purchase bakery items and snacks using wallets or coupons issued within the prison system.
Officials said the digital system will record details including the buyer’s name, items purchased, quantity, date, time and remaining wallet balance. This will allow prison authorities to maintain complete expenditure records of inmates.
