Illegal visa racket: Travel agent arrested in Delhi

Travel Agent Arrested in Illegal Visa Racket at Delhi Airport

Delhi police have arrested a 50-year-old travel agent, Vimal Verma, in connection with an illegal visa racket operating at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport. The arrest comes as part of an ongoing crackdown on fraudulent visa operations in the capital.

The Investigation

The case first emerged in July last year when Dhananjay Kumar Yadav, a resident of Bihar, was apprehended at IGI Airport while attempting to board a flight to Dubai. Yadav was found in possession of a forged Kyrgyzstan visa. Upon interrogation, he revealed that he had paid ₹2 lakh to agents Rehmat and Noor Alam alias Munna for assistance in traveling abroad for employment.

Arrests and Breakthroughs

Subsequent investigations led to the arrests of Rehmat and Sarfaraz Ahmed Mansoori, both key players in the illegal visa operation. During questioning, Vimal Verma's name surfaced as a major collaborator. Verma managed to evade authorities for several months before being tracked down and arrested.

Police reported that Verma confessed to working alongside other agents to defraud job seekers by arranging fake visas. He admitted to receiving a ₹10,000 commission for facilitating the forged Kyrgyzstan visa. Verma is also linked to similar fraud cases in Kurukshetra, Haryana, and Nizamuddin, Delhi.

Wider Crackdown on Visa Frauds

This arrest is part of a larger effort by Delhi police to dismantle illegal visa rackets. In a separate incident, two individuals were arrested for running a fake Poland visa operation under the cover of a printing business. The suspects, Udaypal and Tajinder, produced counterfeit visas using printing equipment.

Police Statement

"We are committed to taking strict action against those involved in exploiting job seekers through fraudulent means. Such rackets not only violate immigration laws but also put lives at risk," said a senior police official.

The police have urged job seekers to verify the credentials of travel agents before making any payments and report suspicious activities to the authorities.

Further Investigation

Authorities are continuing their investigation to identify other members of the network and prevent further exploitation of vulnerable individuals seeking employment abroad.