Mumbai: A 22-year-old chef has accused a hotel management student, Rishabh Sonkar, of cheating him and a co-worker of Rs 5.55 lakh by promising higher-paying hotel jobs abroad before sending them to Laos, where a Chinese company allegedly confiscated their passports and forced them into online fraud for three months. Sahar police registered an FIR on Thursday on a complaint by Rohit Semwal (22). Sonkar has not been arrested, and police are investigating how many others were similarly duped and forced to work for Chinese fraudsters.In the complaint, Semwal said he and Kishor Singh Bisht met Sonkar while working at the Andheri-based five-star hotel where Sonkar underwent hotel management training and his father worked as food and beverage staff. “Sonkar allegedly said his friend Amar earned a good salary in Thailand and offered to arrange hotel jobs abroad. He lured us and collected the money and when we returned back he threatened us when we demanded money,” Semwal said in the FIR.Semwal declined to comment when TOI called on Saturday. TOI is in possession of the FIR filed against Sonkar.Semwal alleged Sonkar collected Rs 5.55 lakh from the two for placement, visas, flights and meetings between Dec 23, 2024, and May 17, 2025. Semwal transferred Rs 16,000 as an entry fee on Dec 23, 2024. He submitted bank statements, transaction records and GPay screenshots with his complaint.Sonkar initially gave Semwal an offer letter purportedly from Swissotel The Bosphorus, Istanbul, but later said he would arrange jobs in Thailand. He booked Thai Lion Air tickets from Mumbai to Bangkok for March 25, 2025. “After they reached Bangkok, Semwal received tickets to Vientiane, Laos, through WhatsApp. On Sonkar’s instructions, they took a domestic flight to Bokeo, where an agent took them to a Chinese company for an interview,” said a police officer.Semwal alleged the company retained their passports and compelled them to participate in scamming and other illegal activities instead of providing kitchen jobs. Unable to leave without their passports, they eventually managed to reach Indian Embassy in Vientiane and were sent back to India after sustained efforts. “After returning to India, Semwal and Bisht sought repayment, but Sonkar allegedly threatened them and refused to return their money. Semwal said Sonkar had assured them of jobs as chefs in a five-star hotel overseas with higher salaries. The two had been made to work at a call-centre operation allegedly run by Chinese fraudsters,” said the police.
