Maharashtra Residents Held in Mangaluru Visa Fraud

In a significant development in a large-scale visa fraud case, two residents from Maharashtra have been arrested by the Mangaluru City Crime Branch (CCB) for allegedly duping nearly 289 job seekers of over ₹4.5 crore under the pretext of overseas employment opportunities.

The accused, identified as Dil Shaad Abdul Sattar Khan (45) from Navi Mumbai and Sahukari Kishore Kumar alias Anil Patil (34) from Dombivli, Thane, were arrested on July 6, 2025. They were later produced in court and remanded to police custody for further interrogation.

The fraudulent operation was being run through Hireglow Elegant Overseas International (OPC) Pvt Ltd, based in Bendorewell, Mangaluru. The agency promised job placements and visas for countries such as New Zealand, Singapore, and Azerbaijan. Victims, mainly from the Dakshina Kannada and Udupi regions, were charged between ₹1.85 lakh and ₹5 lakh each, but none received the promised jobs or documentation.

An earlier arrest in May involved Masihulla Atiulla Khan (36), a resident of Mumbai, who is currently under judicial custody for his role in the scheme.

Following several complaints, Avaneesh Shukla, Protector of Emigrants for Karnataka and Goa, visited Mangaluru, which led to intensified investigations. The arrests were made under sections 316(2), 318(4), and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

Additionally, disciplinary action has been taken against two local police officers who allegedly failed to act on prior intelligence regarding the scam.

Authorities continue their probe, with officials urging affected individuals to come forward and assist in the ongoing investigation.