Three Visa Fraud Cases Registered; Victims Lose Over ₹51 Lakh in Fake Overseas Job Promises
Ludhiana: Three Visa Fraud Cases Registered; Victims Lose Over ₹51 Lakh in Fake Overseas Job Promises.
Police in Ludhiana have registered three separate cases of immigration fraud involving fake overseas job offers for England, Australia, and New Zealand. Victims were collectively cheated of more than ₹51.2 lakh, officials confirmed on Monday.
The cases, lodged at Division Number 5 and Moti Nagar police stations, have led to the booking of multiple suspects on charges of cheating, forgery, and violations of the Immigration Act.
In the largest of the three cases, two brothers and their associate were accused of deceiving a local overseas consultancy in a fake visa-for-job scheme. The suspects Raj Kumar, Alok Kumar, and Abhishek Nathenial allegedly took ₹36 lakh from Harjeet Singh, owner of an educational consultancy in Gurdev Nagar, after promising jobs as care workers in England to two of his clients, identified as Jasleen Kaur and Jashandeep Kaur.
When the promised visas failed to materialize and the money was not returned, Singh filed a police complaint. Following a preliminary investigation, Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Mohan Lal confirmed that an FIR had been registered under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code for cheating and forgery.
Two more complaints were filed at Moti Nagar police station regarding fake work visa promises for Australia and New Zealand.
In the Australian visa scam, complainant Naveen Sharma of Amritsar alleged that after he paid ₹12 lakh, he received a forged visa document. The accused have been named as Mahi Sharma, Davinder Singh, Nitin Ghar, and four others, along with eight unidentified associates.
Police added that Mahi Sharma and Davinder Singh are also linked to the New Zealand visa fraud, where they, along with others, allegedly duped Harpreet Singh of Morinda of ₹3.2 lakh on the pretext of arranging a work visa.
Both cases have been registered under sections related to cheating, criminal conspiracy, forgery, and provisions of the Immigration Act.
Investigators said all three cases are under active inquiry, and further arrests may follow as the network of fraudulent visa operations in Ludhiana and nearby regions comes to light.
“These scams often prey on people’s hopes of going abroad for better job opportunities. We advise residents to verify immigration agents with the government before making any payments.