What Did the IGI Airport Police Discover in the Fake French Visa Racket?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Interstate fake visa racket dismantled at IGI Airport.
- Counterfeit French D-type visas targeted Indian job seekers.
- Key agent V. Kannan arrested, linked to multiple victims.
- Ongoing efforts to trace other individuals involved in the scheme.
- Police emphasize vigilance against fraudulent travel documents.
New Delhi, Dec 2 (NationPress) In a significant operation, the IGI Airport Police have dismantled an interstate fake visa racket that was supplying fraudulent French D-type visas to Indian job seekers. This initiative has resulted in the arrest of a prominent agent hailing from Tamil Nadu.
This intervention forms part of the airport unit’s relentless campaign against the circulation of bogus travel documents and related illegal activities.
The investigation began on October 28, 2025, when three individuals—Naveeraj Subramaniyam (23) and Prabhakaran Senthilkumar (28) from Namakkal, alongside Mohan Gandhi Elangovan (38) from TiruchirappalliParis.
Upon inspection, immigration authorities discovered that the French D-type visas affixed to their passports were forgeries, lacking vital security features. A formal complaint was lodged under applicable sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Passport Act.
During the interrogation, it was revealed that Naveeraj’s counterfeit visa was procured by his brother for a sum of Rs 6 lakh, while Mohan Gandhi and Prabhakaran each handed over Rs 12 lakh to a yet-to-be-identified agent based in Namakkal.
A specialized team, under the leadership of Inspector Virender Kumar Tyagi, SHO of IGI Airport Police Station, and monitored by the ACP/IGI Airport, was assigned to trace the network.
Utilizing technical surveillance and local intel, law enforcement apprehended V. Kannan (55), a resident of Namakkal district. Kannan, who operates a government-recognized ITI and an overseas education consultancy in Velur, admitted to orchestrating the fake visa scheme with assistance from an associate known as Sathik Syed alias Abdul Hakim from Madurai.
He confessed to deceiving at least 16 job seekers with false promises of employment in Parisian warehouses, collecting payments through bank transfers and cash.
Authorities confirmed that the hunt for Hakim is ongoing, and efforts are underway to identify additional individuals involved in the scheme or related cases.
The IGI Airport Police noted that in November 2025, 26 individuals, including six fraudulent agents, were arrested or charged for offenses related to fake visas and passports.
Moreover, 28 touts implicated in illegal operations at the airport were also apprehended during the same timeframe, stated DCP IGI Airport Vichitra Veer.