Karkala: A fraudster who was absconding for the past six months after cheating people over issuing visa, passport for Umrah pilgrimage was arrested by the Kota police with the help of Mumbai police following a private complaint recently.

Abdul Khader, director of Al Ikhlas tours and travels from Mangaluru is the accused.

The arrest was made in Mumbai by a police team led by Brahmavar circle inspector Arun G Nayak and Kota station officer Kabbalraj after a complaint was filed at Kota police station by one G Maida Kutty from Gundmi near Sasthan.

According to sources, Khader had taken Rs 8 lacs from Maida Kutty to issue passport and visa for his pilgrimage to holy places- Mecca and Madina in May 2015. As the applicant did not get the visa and the passport, he inquired about it. But Khader cheated him by giving him two blank cheques which were rejected by the bank.

Another complaint was filed by Maida Kutty’s relative Mohammed Iqbal at Udupi police station, in which he stated that Khader had taken Rs 3.30 lac with the promise of issuing visa for pilgrimage.

It is learnt that the accused was living a luxurious life in Mumbai.

The accused who was produced in court on Saturday is said to have cheated several other pilgrims.