Muvattupuzha: A serial actor has been arrested for defrauding film producers, directors and junior artists of lakhs of rupees under the pretext of availing them loans under the the Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana (PMMY). Vijo P Johnson, 33, hailing from Thrissur district's Pazhayangadi, was held for swindling Rs 10.5 lakh from a woman hailing from Manjarippadi, Maradi South, here.
Police said Vijo befriended the complainant woman, who is also associated with the entertainment industry, at a film set. On coming to know of her financial needs, Vijo convinced she would arrange money by securing loans from the MUDRA - the Micro Unit Development and Refinance Agency.
The serial actor gained the woman's trust by filling the documents for her all by himself and even paid the sum that was required to complete the process. But soon after the loan was passed, Vijo made off with the entire amount, the woman said in her complaint.
It is learnt that the con man had served imprisonments in the Viyyur central jail several times under similar scam charges. He had also carried out three loan frauds under the Peravoor police station limits in Thrissur, and was issued an arrest warrant for duping another person, Salam of Muvattupuzha, of Rs 5 lakh over land deals, police said.
Fearing attacks from the victims who were duped of several lakhs of rupees, Vijo chose to sleep on the terrace of his house at night. The victims had even hired quotation gangs who would often come to his house during night, Vijo told the police. So he would take his car at the break of the dawn and would go for a long drive to remain outdoors all throughout the day. He won't stay at a single place for a long and would keep changing his phone numbers and went about with his fraudulent ways with impunity.
When the police cordoned off his house, Vijo who was on the terrace, sneaked out and took to his heels, but was soon apprehended. Vijo had made small appearances in a couple of serials and films.
MUDRA Scheme
Under the PMMY loans are disbursed to small-scale units by the Micro Unit Development and Refinance Agency. It aims to provide low-interest loans to help micro business/ industrial startups of the country. The loan is credited through nationalised and private banks. Shishu, Kishor and Tarun schemes under it offer loans up to a maximum of Rs 10 lakh.
Shishu covers loans up to Rs 50,000, Kishor is for loans above Rs 50,000 and up to Rs. 5 lakh and Tarun is for loans above Rs 5 lakh and up to Rs. 10 lakh.
