Rajasthan Police Uncover Interstate Fraud Scheme Involving Fake Visas
Interstate Fraud Network Exposed
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Jaipur, May 20: Authorities in Rajasthan are investigating an interstate fraud operation after three individuals were apprehended at Jaipur International Airport while attempting to board a flight to Iraq with counterfeit tourist visas, officials reported on Wednesday.
Law enforcement recovered three forged visas from the suspects and initiated a probe into the extensive network responsible for producing these fraudulent travel documents.
The suspects have been named as Suresh Kumar (47) from Ambedkar Nagar, Uttar Pradesh; Alok Kumar Singh (31) from Patna, Bihar; and Rupesh Yadav (32) from East Champaran, Bihar. According to Deputy Commissioner of Police (East) Ranjita Sharma, the trio arrived at the airport on Tuesday with plans to travel to Baghdad.
During a routine check of their documents, airport personnel became suspicious of the visas' legitimacy and detained them for further questioning. Upon interrogation, the suspects allegedly admitted that they were unable to use their original multiple-entry visas for Iraq. They had subsequently contacted a Jaipur-based agent named Mukesh Lakhar, who purportedly assured them he could provide tourist visas.
Following the agent's instructions, the suspects reached Jaipur on May 17 and stayed at a hotel in the Polo Victory area. The next day, the agent allegedly supplied them with the tourist visas and instructed them on how to respond to questions from airport officials. They were told to claim that they were traveling to Baghdad to repair a machine that had malfunctioned during shipment from Jaipur.
However, airport officials' suspicions were raised during the verification process. When pressed for more information, the suspects reportedly became anxious, resulting in their detention and arrest.
A case has been filed at the Airport Police Station under applicable sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Police are conducting thorough interrogations of the suspects and are also working to uncover the larger network involved in the distribution of fake visas and facilitating illegal international travel.
All three individuals have been presented before the court, and the investigation is ongoing.