Visa Fraud: Rs 63.18 L Duped from Two Applicants
Two separate cases of visa fraud have surfaced in Punjab, with victims losing a total of ₹63.18 lakh to fraudulent travel agents. Police have booked four individuals in connection with the scams.
First Case: ₹18.18 Lakh Taken for UK Travel
Parminder Singh, a resident of Mohalla Tibba Sahib, alleged that he paid ₹18.18 lakh to travel agent Mohan Kakkar, his wife Poonam, and daughter Twinkle of Defence Colony, New Delhi. The money was meant for sending his daughter Loveleen Kaur to England. However, no travel was arranged, and the amount was not returned. A case has been registered at Model Town Police Station on the directions of senior police officials.
Second Case: ₹45 Lakh Lost for US Work Permit
In another case, Satish Kumar of Abdullapur stated that he gave ₹45 lakh to Ranjeet Singh, a resident of Palaki village, Mukerian, to secure a US work permit for his son, Mandeep Singh. The accused neither arranged the permit nor refunded the money. Mukerian police have registered a case and launched an investigation.
Rising Trend of Visa Frauds
Punjab has been witnessing a surge in visa-related frauds, with many families falling victim to unlicensed travel agents. Authorities have urged people to verify the credentials of immigration consultants before making financial commitments.
Police said investigations in both cases are ongoing, and efforts are being made to apprehend the accused.