Kochi

Kerala police have filed cases against 13 nurses for defaulting on loans from Al Ahli Bank of Kuwait, totaling Rs 10.33 crore, officials said on Thursday. The nurses had taken the loans between 2019 and 2021 while working in Kuwait under the Ministry of Health. After completing their contracts, they returned to Kerala but later moved to Europe and other Western countries for better job opportunities, without repaying the loans.

Following the bank’s complaint, cases were registered across Kottayam and Ernakulam districts—eight in Kottayam and five in Ernakulam. Each nurse reportedly defaulted on amounts ranging from Rs 61 lakh to Rs 91 lakh. According to Thomas J Anakkallunkul of James and Thomas Associates, the defaulters initially took smaller loans, repaid them promptly, and later obtained larger amounts before leaving the country.

The Crime Branch is investigating the matter. Lookout notices will be issued against the nurses, and they will be arrested upon returning to Kerala. Similar cases had occurred last year with Gulf Bank, where defaulters faced legal action in the Kerala High Court.