Chandigarh, India — In a swift and coordinated operation, Chandigarh Police on Sunday arrested a former employee of an immigration consultancy for allegedly duping clients of more than ₹8 lakh by promising work-permit visas.

The accused, identified as Neha Bhagotra alias Aastha (29), was reportedly associated with a local immigration company before she began collecting money from applicants under false pretences. According to investigators, she allegedly issued forged offer letters and redirected the collected funds into multiple accounts for her personal use.

Authorities said the FIR in the case was registered on December 6, invoking Sections 318(4), 336(2), and 340(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023, along with relevant provisions of the Immigration Act. The complainant alleged that Neha assured several individuals of overseas employment opportunities while knowingly providing fabricated documents.

Acting on the complaint, police sought and received the magistrate’s approval to take the accused into custody. She was arrested shortly after the operation began.

On Sunday, the investigation team secured two days of police remand to follow the money trail and determine where the diverted funds were routed. Officials also aim to recover the mobile phone allegedly used to coordinate the fraudulent transactions and communicate with victims.

Police stated that the case highlights an increasing trend of immigration-related scams in the region, reaffirming their commitment to cracking down on such offences. Authorities urged residents to verify credentials of immigration agents and refrain from making payments without proper documentation.

Further developments in the investigation are awaited.