Total4U Scam Convict Booked for Defrauding Lawyer of Rs 34.33 Lakh

Sabarinath, the key figure convicted in the 2007 Total4U multi-crore scam, has been booked again for allegedly defrauding advocate Sanjay Varma of Rs 34.33 lakh by promising to launch an e-commerce venture. The Vanchiyoor police registered a case on Saturday under IPC sections 406 (criminal breach of trust) and 420 (cheating), with plans to summon Sabarinath for questioning.

Sabarinath, now 36, was only 19 when he was arrested in 2008 for orchestrating the Total4U scam, which defrauded over 1,200 investors of approximately Rs 200 crore through unregistered firms like Nest Investment, INEST, Total4U, and SJR Group. Convicted in 2016 and sentenced to eight years with a Rs 6.5 crore fine, he has served some sentences while trials for 11 of the 13 charge sheets remain pending. Out on bail, Sabarinath allegedly targeted Varma, luring him with a fake e-commerce business proposal.

According to the FIR, from January 9, 2024, Sabarinath collected Rs 34.33 lakh in installments, registering a firm in Varma’s name with the Registrar of Companies in Bengaluru. He neither launched the business nor returned the funds, prompting the complaint. Varma, a local lawyer, claimed Sabarinath exploited his trust, leveraging his past notoriety to appear credible.

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The 2007 scam saw Sabarinath amass wealth, including 22 luxury cars and properties, by promising high returns to investors. Posts on X have reignited public anger, with users like @KeralaNews labeling him a “serial fraudster.” Police are investigating potential accomplices, as Sabarinath’s history suggests a pattern of deceit, including a failed attempt to flee abroad in 2011.

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