Schengen Visa Scam: CBI, Interpol Act in ₹45L Fraud

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed a formal chargesheet against eight individuals, including a law officer from the French Embassy's Visa Department in New Delhi, in connection with a massive Schengen visa fraud. This marks the first time India has secured an Interpol Silver Notice to trace illicit overseas assets related to the case .

Fraud Mechanics & Scope

• Per-applicant fraud: Individuals were charged between ₹13 lakh and ₹45 lakh to fast-track their Schengen visa applications for travel to Europe, far exceeding the standard fee of around ₹8,500.
• Duration: The scam operated between January 2021 and May 2022, mainly targeting applicants in Punjab.
• Destruction of evidence: After visas were issued, the original documentation was deliberately destroyed to conceal wrongdoing.

Accused Individuals

The chargesheet includes:

• The law officer, Shubham Shokeen.
• His immediate family (wife, brother, father).
• Two visa agents.
• Two intermediaries.

Money Trail & Assets

• Funds Laundered through multiple domestic and overseas accounts before reaching the accused and their family.
• Asset recovery: Investigators seized evidence of cash and properties worth crores in India and abroad. Believed to include luxury real estate valued at over ₹15 crore in Dubai.

Interpol Silver Notice

• Issued at India’s behest in May 2025—India’s first Silver Notice—the Interpol alert enables international partners to trace Shokeen’s global assets and movements.

What This Means

• Diplomatic audit: The involvement of an embassy official signals alarming lapses in internal protocols at foreign missions.
• International enforcement: The Silver Notice highlights global coordination in prosecuting financial crimes and holding officials to account.
• Victim restitution: The CBI is actively working to recover swindled funds and hopes to deliver justice to affected visa applicants.

Final Takeaway

This high-profile case exposes a deeply rooted fraud scheme within an official diplomatic channel. The unprecedented issuance of an Interpol Silver Notice and the comprehensive CBI chargesheet mark a turning point in India’s cross-border fight against white-collar crime. Ongoing investigations and legal proceedings will illuminate whether measures are strengthened to prevent such high-level abuse in the future.