Money deposited in the accounts of applicants only to be withdrawn later, as embassies rarely keep check on deposits
The weeklong investigations carried out by the Chandigarh Police into the Healthyway immigration fraud have revealed a systematic approach adopted by travel agents to exploit loopholes in the international immigration system to literally smuggle people to foreign countries without proper documents.
The police are planning to write to the high commissions of UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand to bring to their knowledge the modus operandi adopted by immigration agent Amit Kakkar.
The immigration agents took advantage of the “trust“ the countries reposed in the system. The preliminary probe reveals that the travel agents prepared bank documents to show financial capabilities of applicants to sustain themselves in a foreign country by depositing money in their accounts only to take out the amount at a later stage. Sources in the police assert that majority applicants are from Sangrur, Patiala, Ludhiana and Ferozepur districts of Punjab, besides from Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. The police claimed that Amit Kakkar, prime accused in case, revealed that depending upon the case they used to deposit money in the saving back account.
Investigating officer DSP (CID) Anil Joshi said for procuring financial documents, the immigration agent would deposit Rs 9 lakh in the bank account of the applicant and demand only Rs 1 lakh from the applicant. For the purpose, the agents would charge 7% commission from the applicant, which would come at around Rs 70,000 for a Rs 10-lakh amount.
The money would then be then converted into fixed deposit of Rs 10 lakh. On the basis of the fixed deposit, the applicant would apply for and get 90% loan sanctioned, which would come at around Rs 9 lakh. Joshi added that in the process the agents would procure important documents of fixed deposit and loan document, which the embassies generally see to evaluate the financial ability of a candidate to sustain himself during his stay in the foreign land.
The documents would be then sent to the embassies. The need for such documents was being felt all the more ever since some countries, including UK, tightened immigration rules.
UT senior superintendent of police Naunihal Singh said, “As the countries seldom get back to check whether the amount is still in the bank or not, the travel agents exploited this loophole in the system. Soon after obtaining visa, the immigration agents would cancel the fixed deposits and withdraw the amount.“ Sources in the police said the travel agents would get blank cheques signed by the immigrants before they fly out of the country, so that the former are unable to take the advantage of the situation. The investigations have also revealed a possible nexus between the banks, financers and travel agents.
Meanwhile, the police are sending telegrams and speed posts to applicants from Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh to collect their passports and other documents. An applicant will have to prove his identity before he is handed over the passport.
The weeklong investigations carried out by the Chandigarh Police into the Healthyway immigration fraud have revealed a systematic approach adopted by travel agents to exploit loopholes in the international immigration system to literally smuggle people to foreign countries without proper documents.
The police are planning to write to the high commissions of UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand to bring to their knowledge the modus operandi adopted by immigration agent Amit Kakkar.
The immigration agents took advantage of the “trust“ the countries reposed in the system. The preliminary probe reveals that the travel agents prepared bank documents to show financial capabilities of applicants to sustain themselves in a foreign country by depositing money in their accounts only to take out the amount at a later stage. Sources in the police assert that majority applicants are from Sangrur, Patiala, Ludhiana and Ferozepur districts of Punjab, besides from Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. The police claimed that Amit Kakkar, prime accused in case, revealed that depending upon the case they used to deposit money in the saving back account.
Investigating officer DSP (CID) Anil Joshi said for procuring financial documents, the immigration agent would deposit Rs 9 lakh in the bank account of the applicant and demand only Rs 1 lakh from the applicant. For the purpose, the agents would charge 7% commission from the applicant, which would come at around Rs 70,000 for a Rs 10-lakh amount.
The money would then be then converted into fixed deposit of Rs 10 lakh. On the basis of the fixed deposit, the applicant would apply for and get 90% loan sanctioned, which would come at around Rs 9 lakh. Joshi added that in the process the agents would procure important documents of fixed deposit and loan document, which the embassies generally see to evaluate the financial ability of a candidate to sustain himself during his stay in the foreign land.
The documents would be then sent to the embassies. The need for such documents was being felt all the more ever since some countries, including UK, tightened immigration rules.
UT senior superintendent of police Naunihal Singh said, “As the countries seldom get back to check whether the amount is still in the bank or not, the travel agents exploited this loophole in the system. Soon after obtaining visa, the immigration agents would cancel the fixed deposits and withdraw the amount.“ Sources in the police said the travel agents would get blank cheques signed by the immigrants before they fly out of the country, so that the former are unable to take the advantage of the situation. The investigations have also revealed a possible nexus between the banks, financers and travel agents.
Meanwhile, the police are sending telegrams and speed posts to applicants from Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh to collect their passports and other documents. An applicant will have to prove his identity before he is handed over the passport.
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