Kerala Police on Thursday arrested a second suspect in the Rs 3.5 crore education recruitment scam linked to the Kochi-based firm Empire Overseas Education. The accused, Kishore Kumar Rayimol, was taken into custody in Ernakulam after his anticipatory bail plea was rejected by the court. Officials said he is the fourth accused in the case, while the prime accused Sujith remains in jail. A total of 13 individuals have been named in the police FIR.

Empire Overseas Education, a firm specializing in overseas university admissions, came under scrutiny after complaints surfaced of large-scale financial fraud. Investigators found that Sujith, who initially joined the company in 2018 as an office assistant, gradually gained access to managerial roles and financial records. Using that trust, he and his associates allegedly diverted company funds, leaked confidential documents, and formed rival firms to poach students and clients.

During the ongoing investigation, police discovered that Rayimol worked closely with Sujith, helping him set up parallel operations using stolen client data and financial records. The arrest came after months of tracking his movements, culminating in his capture from Thiruvananthapuram. Police believe the network orchestrated a long-term plan to cripple the parent company while reaping profits through fraudulent means.

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According to investigators, the fraud has impacted both the company and several students who lost money in promises of overseas placements. Authorities are now tracing the money trail to identify potential shell firms involved in laundering the siphoned funds.

Officials said that more arrests are expected as evidence points to a wider conspiracy spanning multiple cities and bank accounts. The investigation team continues to examine digital records recovered from the accused, including emails and financial transactions, to determine the full scale of the operation.

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