Santosh Kumar at the janata durbar in Patna on Monday. Picture by Deepak Kumar

Santosh Kumar’s last resort is Nitish Kumar.

The 25-year-old youth of Bhikupur Bhawanpur village in Siwan district had dreamt of going abroad for better job prospects. In the process, he was duped of Rs 60,000 by two men in the name of arranging a job for him in Kuwait in January 2011.

On Monday, Santosh, the father of two daughters, turned up at the chief minister’s weekly janata durbar where he narrated his plight. Nitish gave him a patient hearing and called up DGP Abhayanand on the intercom: “I am sending a youth. Just go through his application and take strict action. Also ensure to solve this case urgently as he has lost Rs 60,000 it is quite a big amount for the poor.”

Abhayanand went through the application as Santosh, wearing a white shirt, told him in folded hands: “Two persons — Nagendra Yadav and Kalastar Yadav — of my village took the money and my passport while offering me a job in Kuwait.”

Before he could share more on the issue, Abhayanand said: “Do not worry. I will do something.” Then he called inspector-general (Tirhut) Pankaj Darad, sitting in front of him. The DGP handed over the application and briefed him the matter and said: “We have to take immediate action along with a raid. Make a special team and send it to his village. Santosh will help you to identify those persons.”

Abhayanand told Santosh that the raid would be conducted when he reaches Siwan.

He also asked Pankaj not to inform the local police station, MH Nagar, where an FIR had been lodged by Santosh earlier but to no avail. Abhayanand said: “It seems to be a big racket and we have to crack it immediately.”

Santosh said: “I come from a poor family and I have lost my mother Bhagrathi Devi a few years back. After that, I decided to earn some more for my father Manish Manjhi and for that I wanted to go abroad, mainly Kuwait. The duo said that they had many contacts abroad and it is easy for them to arrange a job for me.”

He added: “I gave them the money in January 2011 along with my passport but ever since I gave them, they did not turn up and return my money. However, just a few months back, they have returned my passport but not the money and several other important documents. I have borrowed that money from my relatives.”

Asked about any hope from the janata durbar, Santosh said: “I have lots of expectation from the way my case was taken up by the chief minister and other senior officials.”