Bengaluru: The American dreams of many students have been shattered by a city based consultancy firm which is accused of swindling them of lakhs of rupees. The Firm (under the banner Bluechip services International private limited) , based in Bangalore and Chennai had offered US visas under work study programme. Many students who flew with the visa had to face humiliation as they were detained for questioning and deported back to India by US immigration authorities stating that they are ineligible.
Since last April, many victims have been running from pillar to post to get back their money. One of the students, Paul Jose , a MBA aspirant had lost around Rs 8 lakh and an academic year, has filed a cheating complaint with the Banaswadi police. According to him, the company had advertised in online job portals, had approached him and offered work study program in US. The victim paid the amount and even attended interview at the US consulate to get the VISA and other formalities. He flew to US last April but the nightmare began soon after he landed in the US. According to him, the immigration authorities refused entry stating that he is ineligible and deported him terming it was illegal entry.
Meanwhile the blue chip company representatives who have been summoned by the police for questioning defended themselves saying that the visa was genuine, but blamed Jose for failing in the interview. He did not carry any money with him, nor did he have a bank balance.
When the US immigration authorities asked him how he will manage, he said that his family would send the money for his expenses and he would work to earn. Not satisfied with Paul’s version, the US immigration authorities deported him to his country of origin, India.
“There are many students who have been sent back by the US authorities, who are still struggling to get their money. They have not only lost their money but also one year due to this “, Paul said in the complaint . A senior police officer of the Banaswadi police station who summoned the representatives of the Firm said that the firm denied any cheating, stating that Paul has failed in the interview and hence was deported. The firm is ready to refund the money which was taken as fee for the course, but Paul wanted the full amount.
Though there are claims that many students have been duped by this firm, no one has come forward to complain, a senior police officer said . Paul claimed that the firm has made an agreement and promised to return their amount after receiving an undertaking that no legal action would be taken.
