The Delhi Police has apprehended a 29-year-old man from Uttar Pradesh for allegedly helping two Punjab-based passengers procure fake Schengen visas to travel illegally to Sweden via Rome, an officer said on Saturday.
Abhinesh Saxena was detained for delivering forged passports to two passengers who were intercepted at the airport while attempting to board a flight to Rome via Doha, he said.
The two passengers had come into contact with an agent named Lalli through a relative who allegedly demanded Rs 31 lakh for arranging their travel documents and tickets.
Acting on his directions, Abhinesh delivered the fake documents at a hotel in Delhi’s Mahipalpur before the two were scheduled to depart.
Also read: Delhi Weather: City min temp 22 deg Celsius, light rain likely
The passengers were identified as Taranveer Singh, 18, and Gagandeep Singh, 20, both natives of Punjab’s Hoshiarpur, the officer said.
On the intervening night of April 21-22, they were at the immigration desk for clearance at IGI Airport where they were detained.
“During scrutiny, immigration officers found that the Schengen visas affixed to their Indian passports were counterfeit,” Additional Commissioner of Police (IGI) Usha Rangnani said.
Both were arrested and booked under sections of the BNS and the Passport Act, he said.
During interrogation, the two told police that they were cousins and trying to reach Sweden to join their relatives, who had migrated earlier in search of better economic opportunities.
After several raids in Punjab to trace Lalli failed, technical surveillance helped locate Saxena, who was arrested from a hideout in Delhi.
Also read: 100 Delhi government doctors urge LG to restore Old Pension Scheme
“During questioning, Saxena confessed to his involvement and revealed that he had been working with Lalli since 2022. He admitted to arranging fake visas and travel documents for people wishing to migrate abroad illegally,” the officer said.
Efforts are on to arrest Lalli and identify others involved in the network.
The weather office has forecast a partly cloudy sky, with the maximum temperature expected to…
Residents across Delhi report stagnant water, damaged roads and clogged drains despite ongoing pre-monsoon desilting…
Delhi brings 23 more services under its time-bound delivery system to speed up approvals, licences…
Delhi High Court dismissed BSES petitions against a proposed CAG audit, terming the challenge premature
Teachers' body alleges restrictive interpretation of promotion norms is delaying career advancement and urges DU…
CM assures accountability, stronger safety measures as families of Saidulajab and Malviya Nagar victims receive…
