42 arrested for fake passport rackets in 2024: Delhi Police

The Delhi Police claimed that it had dismantled multiple transnational fake passport rackets and arrested 42 individuals this year, including 13 Bangladeshi nationals, according to an officer.

Among those arrested, 23 were identified as agents, while the others were passengers.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (IGI) Usha Rangnani revealed that the syndicates, often involving foreign nationals from neighbouring countries, took advantage of India’s porous borders to enter the country and acquire Indian passports using forged documents.

She added that among those apprehended, 13 were Bangladeshi, four Myanmar nationals, three Nepalese, and one from Afghanistan. They had entered India illegally through various borders and secured Indian documents to facilitate unauthorised international travel.

The remaining arrests included nine from West Bengal, four from Delhi, three from Maharashtra, and one each from Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Punjab, Odisha, and Rajasthan.

“The rackets typically start by forging Indian documents, such as birth certificates, for foreign nationals. These documents form the basis for creating additional fake credentials, which ultimately result in the illegal issuance of Indian passports.

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“This systematic operation spans several states, including West Bengal, Maharashtra, and Delhi,” said the DCP.

An officer noted that in March, a Bangladeshi national returning from the UAE was caught with a forged Indian passport. Investigations revealed a syndicate manufacturing fake Indian documents for Bangladeshi nationals. This led to the arrest of four agents and the recovery of 21 fake passports.

In another case, two Bangladeshi nationals returning from Hong Kong with fake passports in October exposed a Maharashtra-based document fabrication network, resulting in the arrest of two agents.

Similarly, in July, a Bangladeshi national using a forged passport to travel to Kuwait was apprehended. This led to the arrest of a Maharashtra-based agent, the officer added.

(With inputs from PTI)