Mumbai Court awards man 1 year jail term for visa fraud, says it impacts India’s image

News Source:- A magistrate’s court recently awarded one year imprisonment to a man who was caught with a forged British Residence Permit at the international airport here, citing that such offences lower the country’s image and pose visa problems for intelligent students.

Additional chief judicial magistrate (Andheri court) R R Khan on February 8 found Hardik Patel, a resident of Gujarat, guilty of offences committed under IPC sections 471 (using as genuine a forged document) and 420 (cheating).

In the detailed order made available on Thursday, the court observed, “Noticeably, the incident is in respect of deceiving the immigration authorities of two countries – India and the United Kingdom. The offences are serious.” 

Due to such offences, job aspirants and intelligent students will not get visa and the image of the nation will be lowered, the court noted.

These offences also have a diplomatic impact, it added.