NEW DELHI: Following a complaint from the US embassy, Delhi Police on Thursday registered a case against 31 people, accusing them of running a large-scale visa fraud racket.
According to the FIR, the embassy named visa applicants and agents operating from Punjab, Haryana, and other states, who were allegedly involved in forging documents such as bank statements, educational certificates, and employment records to obtain US visas.
The fraudulent activities took place between May and August 2024, during which the embassy highlighted 21 alleged instances of conspiracy between agents and applicants to cheat the US government.
“The agents are suspected of submitting fraudulent information on US online visa applications (DS-160s) and providing fraudulent documents to applicants in order to cheat the US Embassy in India and the US government, thereby obtaining US visas based on fraudulent information, misrepresentations, and fake documents,” the FIR read.
“During the period from May to August 2024, our office (US Embassy) conducted relevant investigations and compiled a comprehensive list of individuals linked to multiple IP addresses, suspected to be associated with visa consultants, document vendors (for educational certificates, bank documents, and employment certificates), passport delivery addresses, and education consultants,” it read.
During the investigation, the embassy found that several visa agents were charging applicants between Rs 1 lakh and Rs 15 lakh to arrange fake documents. In one such instance mentioned by the US Embassy, an agent promised to assist with an applicant’s visa for Rs 13 lakh.
“On August 20, 2024, an individual identifying himself as Chamkaur Singh applied for a non-immigrant visa at the US Embassy in New Delhi. As part of the visa application process, Singh claimed on his online visa application that he was employed as a front desk operator at a company located in Punjab,” the FIR stated.
“However, during the stipulated interview with US Embassy officials on August 20, 2024, he admitted that he had never worked as a front desk operator and stated that a visa agent working at an immigration company in Punjab’s Batala entered incorrect information in his visa application to fill the one-year gap,” the FIR mentioned.
Singh further said that the company allegedly provided fake bank documents in his and his father’s name. “Singh stated that he did not have access to or control of this account and that it was created by the agent solely for the purpose of his visa application. He further stated that his father had to pay Rs 13 lakh to the agent if the visa was issued,” it added.
A case under sections 318, 336, and 340 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Section 66(D) of the Information Technology Act has been registered. Further raids are being conducted to track down more individuals involved in the network.
This comes amid US President Donald Trump’s ongoing crackdown on illegal immigrants after assuming office.
The deportation of Indian nationals from the United States surged by 400% in the past three years, according to the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) fiscal year 2024 annual report, released in December last year.
The first US military flight that arrived on February 5 brought 104 deportees, with both men and women handcuffed and their feet shackled. The second flight, carrying 119 deportees, arrived on February 15. The third flight, with 112 deportees, landed on February 16, this time with only the men in shackles.
