AP: Another IT firm cheats staff

HYDERABAD: Close on the heels of Prodigy Software Solutions cheating its employees by collecting deposits and defaulting on salaries, another IT firm, Tancoz, duping more than 300 employees by collecting between Rs 50, 000 and Rs 1 lakh from job-seekers came to light.According to the police, Tancoz Software Solutions, located at Madhapur, lured jobless youth with the promise of training and job opportunities, and collected lakhs of rupees from them.According to inspector K Srinath Reddy, they received complaints from victims that they werre not paid salaries.Murthy Lal Chand, who had floated the company in a rented building in Mega Hills Tower at Madhapur a few years ago, closed the office three months ago.The company paid salaries to some employees by cheque but the y bounced.The victims went to the Madhapur police.A preliminary inquiry found that each job-seeker paid between Rs 50,000 and Rs 1 lakh to the company.“We inspected the office.As Lal Chand failed to clear electricity bills, the department disconnected power supply to the office.The house-owner asked Lal Chand to vacate the premises,’’ police said.Ravindranath, an employee, said they lodged a complaint when the company collected Rs 70,000 from him promising him a job.“I paid the money with help from a friend of mine.After paying the amount to a person, they gave me an appointment letter offering Rs 17,000 salary per month.They paid me just for two months and defaulted for four months,’’ he said.The police registered a case under Section 420 (cheating) of IPC against the firm.