Janaseva Sisubhavan chairman Jose Maveli booked for charity fraud

Thiruvananthapuram: Crime Branch has booked Aluva-based Janaseva Sisubhavan chairman Jose Maveli and three others for fraud in the name of charity. They were acting on a complaint by social welfare secretary Biju Prabhakar to DGP Loknath Behera seeking action against the orphanage for transporting and harbouring 104 children from other states. The case was registered under Juvenile Justice Act 74, 76 and IPC 370.  The complaint says five children are still missing. Four missing earlier were found begging at Thrissur railway station.

Another complaint was that he had been using their photos for fundraising, also punishable under the Act.  The students were paraded in the streets several times, the complaint said. Janaseva is under the control of the Social Welfare Board since last month. Mr Prabhakar in the letter to the DGP wanted an inquiry into a ladder found from their guest house building to the girl’s hostel.  He alleged that children from other state were transported and harboured on the promises of better facilities like food, accommodation and other assistance.

Mr Maveli denied the charges. "We have all proper licenses to run the establishment," he told DC.  “After the Juvenile Justice Act came into effect, there have been attempts to accuse us of violations. There are external forces that wanted the shutdown. They have been spreading rumours." Meanwhile, a meeting attended by its chief patron Justice P. K. Shamsudheen and vice-chairperson Kaviyoor Ponnamma held on Sunday came out against the move.  They demanded a high-level inquiry into it.