Visa Fraud Case Filed Against Immigration Firm

The Chandigarh Police have registered a case of visa fraud against Asian Manpower Employment Services, a Sector 17-based immigration consultancy, for allegedly duping multiple individuals of nearly ₹9.5 lakh by promising overseas work visas.

Complaint by Himachal Chef Sparks Probe

The case was filed following a complaint by Akashdeep, a chef from Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh. He reported that the firm lured him through an online advertisement offering a Luxembourg work visa for ₹1.5 lakh.

• He initially transferred ₹1 lakh via GPay to a QR code provided by an employee named Pooja, and later paid ₹50,000 in cash after meeting Anubhav Garg, who introduced himself as the company’s director.
• The firm assured visa approval within a month, but after repeated delays and false assurances of refunds, the office abruptly shut down, and its staff went missing.

Fraudulent Pattern Emerges

Police investigations revealed that several other individuals had also been duped in a similar manner. The total defrauded amount is estimated to be over ₹9.51 lakh. Authorities have launched a manhunt for the accused, who remain absconding.

Chandigarh – A Hub for Immigration Scams

This case adds to a growing list of immigration frauds in Chandigarh. According to police data, more than 199 cases worth ₹42 crore were reported in the past year alone, with 500+ fake firms under the scanner. Sector 17 and other commercial hubs remain hotspots for such fraudulent activities.

Public Advisory

Police have urged citizens to verify the credentials of immigration firms before making any payments and to rely only on authorized consultancies. Victims of fraud are encouraged to come forward and lodge complaints to aid ongoing investigations.