Malappuram, Feb 8 : Kerala MLA Najeeb Kanthapuram has been booked for allegedly deceiving multiple individuals by falsely promising laptops and scooters at half price under the guise of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds.

The Perinthalmanna police registered a case against Kanthapuram following a complaint from a 24-year-old woman from Pulamanthole in Malappuram district. His secretary has also been charged in connection with the fraud.

According to the police, the accused promoted the scheme through news articles and WhatsApp messages, claiming beneficiaries could obtain laptops at 50% of the cost, with delivery guaranteed within 40 days. Victims were reportedly persuaded in person to trust the initiative.

On September 25, 2024, the complainant paid Rs 21,000—partly in cash and partly via bank transfer—at Kanthapuram’s Perinthalmanna office. However, neither the laptop nor a refund was provided, leading to financial losses for the victim, as stated in the FIR.

The police have also filed two additional cases, one of which was based on a complaint by Kanthapuram himself. The MLA alleged that Rs 1.88 crore was misappropriated from a charitable organization in his constituency under the pretense of providing laptops, two-wheelers, and sewing machines.

The primary suspect, Anandu Krishnan, a resident of Thodupuzha in Idukki district, was arrested for allegedly defrauding people of several crores using similar fraudulent promises.

Krishnan and other members of the National NGO Confederation were allegedly responsible for orchestrating the scam in 2024. Police reports suggest the total fraud may amount to approximately Rs 600 crore.

Krishnan was interrogated on Friday by Ernakulam Range DIG Satish Bino and Rural SP Vaibhav Saxena at the Aluva Police Club near Kochi. Authorities have also frozen four bank accounts linked to him as part of the probe.