Date:10/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/10/stories/2008111054090400.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

CB CID case against Saravana hotel chain managing director

Special Correspondent

Police are on the lookout for three more persons involved in the case

CHENNAI: The CB CID has registered a case against managing director of hotel chain Saravana Bhavan, who was arrested on Saturday on charges of having forged documents for US visa applications of four of his employees.

P.R. Shivakumar, managing director, Saravana Bhavan group of hotels, and son of the owner, P. Rajagopal, was arrested at K.K. Nagar on Saturday evening after the US. Consulate General here lodged a complaint against him.

One of the four employees, Ramu Murugaiyan, has also been arrested.

The complaint alleged that four Saravana Bhavan employees were given false documents, claiming that they were employed as production executives and intended to visit the Process Expo and Pack Expo International 2008 in Chicago.

While interviewing the employees, the consulate ascertained that their ulterior motive was to get visas on the pretext of visiting the expo and then get them employed in the US, the complaint said, alleging that the accused was indulging in human smuggling to the US.

The arrested were produced before the Egmore Metropolitan Magistrate court on Sunday and remanded to custody.

Police are on the lookout for three more persons involved in the case.