Sutra shuts shop, CEO absconding

It is a typical case of fraud, where fly-by-night operators show big dreams to people, dupe them of their money and run with the booty. Welcome to Sutra Solutions, the high sounding company that left no stone unturned to gain publicity. 

A posh office in Bangalore's Air Port Road, an extravagant launch in a five star hotel, and seemingly authentic ambitious growth plan across the country, are some of the factors that contribute to this great sham.

Nearly 450 students, 200 franchises have woken up to the harsh reality. The once posh office looks dilapidated. Ajay Shah, CEOof the company has been absconding since a week and Raju Krishnamurthy, Finance Director, is in police custody.

Its apparent victims have filed a number of cases against the company. Those who have suffered include students, who were promised a job after a three months training and franchisees that have been promised support for setting up outlets across the country.

For its call center, Sutra, more than 400 candidates were taken in after a seemingly disciplined recruitment process. Most of these were taken in as trainees and were asked to pay a deposit of Rs 6,000 for customer support training and Rs 25,000 for technical support training. 

Kartik, a trainee customer support sharing his agony said, he feels cheated by the company. "We have lodged a complaint against the company and we will fight it out till the end," he said.

"The company has not paid the rent for its infrastructure at the Oxford Towers in Airport Road, Bangalore for a month to the tune of Rs five lakh plus the maintenance," complained the building authorities. 

Raghu R, who was working in administration said, "The telephone bills have not been paid, and even the website
www.sutrasolutions.com is down. None of the employees were informed about the company's financial problems." 

As the 'International' call center project never took off, the company then pitched high for Sutra iCafe, a new concept of a network of call centers. Sutra iCafe', a network of cyber cafes. With help from its franchisees, it had opened 42 sutra centers in Bangalore, two in Udupi, six in Mangalore and four in Cochin. This project also did not take off. Within a span of six months, the man behind the fraud, Ajay Saha has thought up of at-least three business propositions that would help him get quick bucks. All the money- from employees in the form of training fees, and as security deposits from franchisees, sums up to more than Rs 1.2 crore. While he had vacated his residence a month ago, he was said to have gone to Cochin to collect some payment and return. 

Sources reveal that he is probably still in Bangalore and hiding. Hope the sleuths act up soon and track him down while bringing justice to the victims.

This is yet another warning to those desperate employment seekers, who would blindly believe rosy offers falling prey to such fly-by-night operators.

Ranjeet Rayen & Vilasini Bharadwaj 

(CNS)