Times Of India — Please Stop Fraudulent Job Posting Advertisements in Today's Times Of India Wednesday Classifed Section.

Karthikeyan_S

from Bengaluru, Karnataka

Address:	33178
Website:	www.carnival.com

Dear Mr. Sanjay Kumar, and other Times Of India Representatives,

I would like to bring to your attention, a case of fraudulent behaviour perpetrated by one of your Job provider advertisers; namely "Vicky" Vivek Malhotra of Carnival Cruise Lines. (Please see two accompanying attached advertisements put out as recently as in today's (Wed., 25th Jan., 2017), Times of India Bangalore edition) I don't want anybody else ensnared in Mr. Malhotra's campaign of mis-insformation, and defrauding unsuspecting job applicants of their hard-earned money anymore.

Mithun Mandal of Kolkata (Mobile Phone Nos. : +[protected], +[protected], +[protected], & +[protected], and e-mail address : [protected]@gmail.com), had received an offer letter from Carnival Cruise Lines through Mr. Malhotra (Phone Nos: +[protected], +[protected], +[protected] & +[protected], e-mail addresses: [protected]@gmail.com, & [protected]@gmail.com), but had asked him to make a deposit of INR 77, 000/- into his Mr. Malhotra's account for charges such as making o[censored]S visa, and air travel charges, etc. Mithun made a deposit into Mr. Malhotra's account of INR 35, 000/-, and I made a deposit of INR 42, 000/- into Mr. Malhotra's account, for a grand total of INR 77, 000/-. (Please see attachments of the bank challan stubs made for the payments to Mr. Malhotra, in both Acrobat PDF, and Picture JPG formats.) Both the stated deposits were made so that Mithun could serve as a Waiter / Steward in Carnival Cruise Lines employment. (Mithun is unable to make ends meet for his family, and spent his life savings to get this job, so that he could cover his family expenses.)

However, Mr. Malhotra kept constantly pushing back the date of departure to USA for Mr. M. Mandal, citing one excuse or another, even though we had fully paid up, back at the end of Nov., 2016. We have now lost all trust and belief in Mr. Malhotra, to fulfill his end of the promised bargain. So, we believe that we were duped, and now, do not want this to happen to anybody else. Please investigate this matter, and make sure nobody else is hurt. On my part, I am approaching the Department of Consumer Affairs (Government of India) at "[protected]@gov.in, " to rectify this matter, post-your analysis of this issue, and conclusive report to me, Please let me know at the earliest. (end of this month, if possible)

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Thank you.

Karthikeyan S.
Ph. No. : +[protected]

+6 photos

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Dec 17, 2017

Updated by Karthikeyan_S The fraudulent job poster (Vicky Malhotra) is at it again in last Wednesday, 13th December, 2017's Times Of India (TOI) newspaper's Classified section on page 8 - trying to hoodwink more unsuspecting, and innocent souls looking for jobs abroad, in USA Cruise Lines for want of a better life. (please see attachment) Nobody should fall for this ruse again like we did. If you are a victim, then please raise complaints in the following grievance redressal cell forum systems;

1) Local Consumer Complaints Forum
http://consumerhelpline.gov.in/
[protected]@gov.in
2) Local Public Ombudsman
http://commerce.gov.in/InnerContent.aspx?Id=454
[protected]@nic.in

3) World Business Appraisers For Times Of India
https://www.bbb.org/consumer-complaints/file-a-complaint/get-started

4) Here on https://www.consumercomplaints.in/new_complaint/

5) MCA’s Ashish.[protected]@mca.gov.in, and shashi.[protected]@mca.gov.in

6) Ombudsmen of the World: [protected]@locateombudsman.com

as TOI's own Grievance Officer (grievance.[protected]@timesinternet.in) washed his hands of the issue, without helping, saying the following to me :

"Dear Sir,

This has reference to your email dated 25th January’17.

A newspaper on a given day, receives hundreds of advertisements under various columns of the newspaper, which are printed/published, and as such it is not practically possible to cross check the veracity of the advertisements, and for what purpose these advertisements are released, nor is there is any law which enforces any right on the newspaper to take or reject advertisements until and unless the advertisement is in contravention of any law of land.

These types of advertisements are being carried/published by almost all the leading newspapers of the country. It is important to point out that every newspaper has separate column / space for specific type of advertisement, and it is common practice to publish all types of advertisement as newspaper does not doubt the integrity of its advertisers. All advertisements are published in good faith, without suspecting the bonafides of the advertisers. If the advertisers are doing anything which is illegal or contrary to law for such actions/activities the advertisers are themselves responsible as newspaper have no control over them.

It is worth appreciating that on a given day the quantum of advertisements published in a newspaper are such that it is humanly impossible to go through each advertisement, more so, as the publishing of newspaper happens within strict timelines. The newspaper has to carry the advertisement as per the specification of the client/advertiser and the advertisement is owned by advertiser and newspaper has no say in it. In order to caution the readers, the newspaper generally carries a disclaimer to this effect although there is no such obligation under law. The said disclaimer is carried in the newspaper as a social responsibility and to caution their valuable readers. The said disclaimer is typed below for ready reference:

“Readers are recommended to make appropriate enquires and seek appropriate advice before sending money, incurring any expenses, acting on medical recommendations or entering, acting on medical recommendations or entering into any commitment in relation to any advertisement published in this publication. The Times of India Group doesn’t vouch for any claims made by the Advertisers of products and services. The Printer, Publisher, Editor, and Owners of The Times of India Group Publications shall not be held liable for any consequences. In the event such claims are not honoured by the Advertisers”

It is pertinent to mention that, the newspapers responsibility is only to check issues pertaining to the media laws, and other laws which prohibit publication of objectionable advertisements, or such advertisements which are apparently in contravention of any law of the land. The advertisement in question do not contravene any law of land.

The advertisement which is carried in the newspaper clearly advertise for recruitment. There is nowhere mentioned in advertisement that person has to deposit the money. You came to know when you called them up which proves that nothing wrong is mentioned in the advertisement carried. The advertisement is also part of freedom of speech and expression as held by Hon’ble Supreme Court in its one of judgment. In the event of any misuse of such advertisement, we cannot be blamed or held responsible for such misuse/mis-representation.

As explained above in the reply the advertisements are published in newspaper as per the instructions of the clients and the advertisements are owned by advertisers/client and newspaper has no say in the text/matter of the advertisements with an exception of advertisements in contravention of any law of the land. However, a newspaper is neither an investigator nor an actual service provider since newspaper does not doubt the integrity of its advertisers, and all advertisement are published in good faith, without suspecting the bonafides of the advertisers. If they are doing anything else which is illegal or contrary to what they have advertised, we cannot be held liable for that, as we have no control over them and they themselves are responsible for their activity. In case there is something wrong being done by such advertiser/person then they are themselves liable and not the newspaper.

This reply is sent without prejudice to our rights and contentions and nothing contained in this reply shall be deemed an admission of any fact or a waiver of any of rights or remedies in connection with the matter, whether at law or in equity, all of which rights and remedies are hereby expressly reserved.
We hope by this reply we have addressed your grievance.

Thanking you,

Grievance Officer"

Dec 05, 2018

Updated by Karthikeyan_S Despite my having informed Bennett Coleman's Times of India (TOI) journal to cease and desist from publishing the fraudulent Captain Vicky Malhotra's advertisements several times at regular intervals over a period of a year and half; they did it again on Wednesday, 21st November, 2018. (please attachment). I have received several calls from unsuspecting persons, who had the wisdom to do a Google search on the con artist - Captain Vicky Malhotra. before their hard-toiled-for money is siphoned off in broad daylight by this fly-by-night operator, and so-called Captain Vicky Malhotra. Everybody should beware of this guy, as redressal of your grievance is very hard, as establishment "institutional" organizations such as Times Of India are propping him up. Please take anything they write with a large pinch of salt, and anything you hear from them, should be let out through your other ear.