How Did IGI Airport Police Arrest a UP Man Involved in a Fake Schengen Visa Scheme?

Synopsis
In a pivotal operation, IGI Airport Police arrested a travel agent from Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh, linked to a fraudulent visa racket aimed at Europe-bound travelers. This significant arrest reveals a larger network exploiting desperate travelers and visa loopholes. Stay tuned to learn more about the investigation and its implications.
Key Takeaways
- IGI Airport Police has arrested a travel agent for involvement in a fake visa racket.
- The operation targets Europe-bound travelers using counterfeit Schengen visas.
- Two passengers, Taranveer Singh and Gagandeep Singh, were apprehended with forged documents.
- The investigation revealed a larger network exploiting visa loopholes.
- Authorities are reviewing past travel records for further leads.
New Delhi, May 1 (NationPress) In a major development, IGI Airport Police have taken into custody a 29-year-old travel agent from Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh, for his suspected role in a fraudulent visa scheme aimed at individuals traveling to Europe, as reported by officials.
The suspect, known as Abhinesh Saxena, was arrested following the apprehension of two travelers -- Taranveer Singh and Gagandeep Singh -- at Indira Gandhi International Airport on April 21.
The pair was attempting to board a flight to Rome on their way to Sweden using counterfeit Schengen visas.
During questioning, the travelers revealed that their forged documents, including the fake visas, were procured from an agent based in Delhi.
Following the information provided, police traced the operation back to Saxena, who had delivered the passports and counterfeit documents at a hotel in Mahipalpur, a neighborhood in South West Delhi known for its budget accommodations frequently used by travelers and agents.
As per police reports, Saxena admitted to being part of a larger network specializing in the forgery of travel documents for significant fees.
He acknowledged working closely with another agent, referred to only as Lalli, in arranging the false visas and accompanying documents.
The travelers reportedly paid a total of Rs 31 lakh for the promised journey to Sweden.
Authorities indicated that this arrest has shed light on a broader, organized scheme that exploits visa loopholes and the desperation of travelers.
Police are currently reviewing past travel records to determine if other travelers have utilized similar forged documents from the same network.
Recently, Delhi Police also apprehended an agent from Punjab for facilitating a fake UK visa in 2022.
In another incident, IGI Airport Police arrested an agent for arranging a counterfeit Schengen visa for an Indian attempting to fly to the Netherlands.