Delhi police have made a significant breakthrough in combating the issuance of fake visas. On Sunday, officials at Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) uncovered a counterfeit visa operation in Tilak Nagar. The operation led to the arrest of six agents and the recovery of 16 Nepalese and two Indian passports with fake Schengen visas.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Usha Rangnani reported that the investigation began on September 2, following information from the Bureau of Immigration about an Italy-bound passenger with a fake Sweden visa. An FIR was lodged, and a probe was initiated.
The police discovered that the counterfeit operation was part of a large syndicate managed by a gang with multiple members. The authorities recovered 30 fake visas, 23 counterfeit rubber stamps representing various countries, and equipment including watermark machines, dyeing machines, printers, and computers.
Among those arrested, two individuals, including one named Balbir, have prior criminal records. The factory, which had been operating for about five years, produced 30 to 50 fake visas per month using secure communication apps such as Telegram and Signal.
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"Dismantling human trafficking and fake visa syndicate, the police team has arrested 6 persons including one passenger. On Sept 2, we got information from Bureau of Immigration, that Italy-bound passenger had a fake Sweden visa on his case. FIR was lodged into the case and a probe was taken up. We got intelligence input that this was a large syndicate operated by a gang with multiple members," DCP) Usha Rangnani said, as ANI quoted.
"We have recovered 30 fake visas, 23 fake rubber stamps of different countries, 16 Nepal and 2 Indian passports watermark machines, dyeing machines & printers and computers recovered. Out of those arrested, two persons including one Balbir have prior cases. This factory has been running for the past 5 years. 30-50 visas were made in a month. They used secure communication apps like Telegram &Signal. We are probing how many people were sent with fake visas. 3-4 people from the syndicate are to be arrested," she added.