In a significant breakthrough, the Delhi Police on Thursday dismantled a fake visa syndicate and arrested a 35-year-old man identified as Prateek Shah from Surat, Gujarat. Shah is suspected to be the mastermind behind the sophisticated operation that forged visas for multiple countries, including Canada, Serbia, Azerbaijan, and the UK.
The syndicate’s operations came to light when a man named Kuldeep was detained at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport on September 28. During routine scrutiny, officials discovered that a fake Canadian visitor visa had been affixed to Kuldeep’s passport. Upon further interrogation, Kuldeep revealed that he had paid ₹5 lakh in advance to an agent named Sandeep, who had promised him safe passage to Canada and a job upon arrival.
The Unraveling of a Fake Visa Syndicate
Deputy Commissioner of Police Usha Rangnani confirmed that an FIR was registered following Kuldeep’s detention, launching an in-depth investigation into the matter. The trail led to Sandeep, who was nabbed in Kaithal, Haryana, in late September. Sandeep confessed that he was part of a larger “syndicate” responsible for issuing fake visas and arranging travel documents for desperate individuals seeking foreign employment opportunities.
Upon Sandeep’s arrest, the police zeroed in on five more members of the syndicate: Gaurav, Nitin Sharma, Sarabjeet Kaur, Gagandeep Kaur, and Reena Kaushal. According to DCP Rangnani, Sarabjeet and Gagandeep Kaur actively advertised their services through social media platforms, even offering guarantees to obtain visas for individuals whose applications had previously been rejected.
Prateek Shah: The Mastermind Behind the Operation
During their interrogation, the arrested syndicate members pointed to Prateek Shah as the expert behind the fabrication of fake visa stickers. Shah, a skilled designer, reportedly ran a factory in Surat where he produced counterfeit visa stickers for multiple countries. Police officials quickly formed a team to apprehend Shah, leading to his arrest in Gujarat.
“When we raided his hideout, Shah was in the process of hurriedly packing his equipment. He had been preparing to relocate his operations after learning about the arrest of his associates,” said DCP Rangnani.
The police seized a substantial amount of incriminating material during the raid. Among the items confiscated were 14 fake visa stickers, nine rubber stamps from various countries, 16 dyes for countries including Canada and Serbia, 80 blank PR card chips, holograms of several nations, a large printer, a sealing machine, and numerous passports and related stationery.
A Warning Against Visa Fraud
This major bust highlights the growing concern around illegal visa syndicates preying on vulnerable individuals eager to seek better opportunities abroad. The Delhi Police, by uncovering this fake visa syndicate, have issued a stern warning to those engaging in such fraudulent activities.
Authorities are now investigating whether other individuals or groups were involved in this syndicate’s operations and are working to track down more potential victims who may have fallen prey to the scam. The Delhi Police have also urged the public to be cautious of visa agents promising guaranteed visas and high-paying jobs abroad in exchange for large sums of money.
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