Thaindian News

Chandigarh, Nov 20 (IANS) In a unique case of forgery and fraud for arranging tourist visas, Chandigarh Police Sunday arrested two immigration agents, including a former paramilitary trooper.

The special investigation team (SIT) investigating immigration frauds, found that Vikram Sharma, an ex-tropper, and Vinay Chadha, who owned Atlantic Overseas Consultancy in Sector 32 here, used to obtain information and documents of innocent residents and illegally use these for forging papers of their clients seeking to go abroad.

Both have been booked for fraud, cheating and other offences under the Indian Penal Code (IPC). They have been sent on a two day police remand by a local court here Sunday, an official said.

“The accused took the passport of an applicant and then searched on internet for a Chandigarh resident with similar name and initials. After this, they generated all necessary documents like bank statement, employer certificate and property documents in the name of the visa applicant by using the name and address of the actual resident of Chandigarh,” a police spokesman said.

Police have identified 10-12 such fake addresses.

“The persons, whose residence proof were used by the accused, have denied to have applied for tourist visa. The SIT team is investigating the role of a printing press where the fake documents were printed,” the spokesman said.

The arrested people were earlier working for an institute for management and technology in Punjab’s Hoshiarpur district, police said.

Vikram Sharma earlier served as a sub-inspector with the Central Industrial Security Force for six years, police said.

“They charged Rs.5-8 lakh for each tourist visa. Both the accused used to keep their all documents with them and give their own mobile numbers to the concerned embassies with the motive to keep all things secret,” police said.

“They used seven to eight mobiles phones, registered in the name of the others,” the spokesman said.

The SIT is also investigating into a possible role of officials of a local branch of the HDFC Bank in the accused’s illegal operation.

“The team has recovered one Tata Safari SUV, passports, scanner, laptops, letter pad, fake bank statements, fake school certificates, fake statements and certificates of companies and other documents,” the spokesman said.