Immigration Racket in Mohali: Agents Arrested for Aiding Gangsters Flee to Europe

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Key Takeaways:

Mohali police bust an immigration racket aiding criminals to flee using fake documents; arrested agents Shazeb and Kaif.
Agents created fake Aadhaar, sourced old passports, altered photos; routed clients through Bangladesh to Europe.
Criminals like Gopi Nawashehria, Sukhjit Singh, and Gurpreet Singh fled using this network; case registered under IPC forgery sections.

How Was the Mohali Immigration Racket Busted?

In May 2023, the State Special Operating Cell in Mohali made a significant discovery, exposing an extensive immigration racket aiding gangsters in their attempts to flee to Europe. The operation led to the arrest of two key immigration agents, Mohammad Shazeb Abid, alias Shazeb, and Mohammad Kaif, both residents of Ranjit Nagar, Delhi.

Immigration Racket in Mohali: Agents Arrested for Aiding Gangsters Flee to Europe

Who Were the Arrested Agents?

The arrested agents, Shazeb and Kaif, specialized in facilitating the escape of criminals facing legal troubles within India by creating fake passports and identities. According to the police, the two played crucial roles in helping individuals with criminal records evade justice by providing them with counterfeit documents to bypass regular immigration protocols.

What Was Their Modus Operandi?

The agents employed a sophisticated method to ensure their clients could safely escape:

Creation of Fake Aadhaar Cards and Driving Licences: The first step involved making counterfeit identification documents such as Aadhaar cards and driving licenses.
Arrangement of Old Original Passports: They then sourced old original passports, which do not contain an electronic chip—a key element in modern immigration checks.
Alteration of Passport Photographs: The photo on the passport was altered to match that of the individual attempting to flee, while other personal details remained unchanged.
Route Through Bangladesh: Clients were taken to Siliguri in West Bengal and helped to infiltrate into Bangladesh via a forest route.
Stay in Bangladesh: Once in Bangladesh, the clients were arranged to stay for a few months.
Final Transfer to European Countries: From Bangladesh, they were sent to Hong Kong and finally to European countries such as Poland and Portugal.

How Did They Help Criminals Escape?

The charged dual created counterfeit visas to allow individuals to evade regular immigration checks. Their underground network provided a clandestine route through Bangladesh to ensure their clients could escape the stringent immigration controls in place.

Which Gangsters Managed to Flee?

This illegal immigration network has already facilitated several criminals’ escape from India. Notably:

Gopi Nawashehria: A close associate of Pakistani-based terrorist Harvinder, alias Rinda, escaped to Poland on a fake identity in 2022.
Sukhjit Singh: Also known as Sukha Kalaudi of Sangrur, managed to flee to the United States.
Gurpreet Singh: Alias Lehmber Sidhwan from Ludhiana, moved to Canada.

How Was the Network Exposed?

This extensive immigration racket was uncovered following the arrest of two Jalandhar residents, Jagjeet Singh, alias Jeeta, and Sonu. These individuals were initially involved in the immigration racket, leading authorities to Shazeb and Kaif. The scope of their operation came to light with further investigation, revealing around 20 individuals with criminal histories fleeing the country through documents prepared by these agents.

What Legal Actions Have Been Taken?

On May 8, a case was registered in Mohali under Sections 467, 468, 471, and 120-B of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Passport Act, 1967. These sections pertain to forgery, fraud, and criminal conspiracy, which cover the creation and use of fake passports and other identification documents.

What Can You Do to Avoid Being a Victim?

Verify Immigration Agents: Always check the credentials of immigration agents. Look for proper certification and background before availing their services.
Report Suspicious Activities: If you come across any suspicious activities or encounter agents offering shortcuts to immigration processes, report them to local authorities.
Stay Informed: Keep yourself updated about the legal methods of immigration by regularly visiting authoritative sources such as the Ministry of External Affairs website.

Why Is It Important to Use Legal Immigration Channels?

Utilizing legal immigration channels ensures your journey is safe and recognized internationally. Engaging in illegal methods not only puts you at risk of legal consequences but also questions your integrity and future international travel opportunities.

These incidents underscore the critical need for vigilance and awareness regarding the services we use for purposes as serious as immigration. While the arrests in Mohali have temporarily crippled this specific immigration racket, it is incumbent upon individuals to ensure they use transparent and lawful means for their travel aspirations.

Learn Today:

Glossary

Immigration Racket: An illegal network or scheme designed to help individuals unlawfully enter or exit a country, often involving forged documents and bribery.
Counterfeit Documents: Fake or altered identification papers such as passports, Aadhaar cards, or driving licenses, used by individuals to evade legal and immigration controls.
Modus Operandi: A specific method or procedure used by criminals to carry out their illegal activities. In this context, it refers to the step-by-step process employed by the immigration agents to facilitate the escape of individuals.
Forgery: The act of creating, altering, or using fake documents with the intent to deceive or commit fraud. This is a criminal offense under the Indian Penal Code and was a key activity in the immigration racket.
Passport Act, 1967: An Indian law regulating the issuance and use of passports, which includes penalties for the creation and use of fake passports. This act was invoked in the legal actions against the immigration agents involved in the racket.

This Article In A Nutshell:

In May 2023, Mohali’s State Special Operating Cell busted an immigration racket aiding gangsters’ escapes to Europe. Arrests included key agents Shazeb and Kaif from Delhi. They created fake passports and used clandestine routes through Bangladesh. The raid followed arrests in Jalandhar, exposing the scheme aiding over 20 criminals.
— By VisaVerge.com

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