Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi

New Delhi, Aug 27: Delhi Police Crime Branch has busted a visa fraud racket that allegedly cheated more than a dozen Nepali citizens of lakhs of rupees by luring them with promises of overseas jobs. Two suspects, identified as Jayakub and Rupesh, have been arrested for defrauding about 19 people of Rs 70 lakh on the pretext of providing employment in Serbia.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Vikram Singh said the case came to light after a complaint was lodged by 22-year-old Nepali national Sujhan Khadka, who alleged that he and 18 others were cheated. The accused posed as travel agents and showed scanned copies of fake visas and job letters to gain the victims’ trust.

Each victim reportedly paid between Rs 3 lakh and Rs 5 lakh (around 3,500 euros) and handed over their original passports. However, when they came to Delhi in July to collect visas and travel to Serbia, the accused began making excuses and eventually threatened them when confronted, refusing to return money or passports.

Investigations revealed that all visas issued to the victims were forged. Following registration of the case on August 25, Jayakub was arrested from Noida, and police recovered 13 Nepali passports along with incriminating chats from his mobile phone. During questioning, he confessed to the involvement of his associate Rupesh, who was later arrested from Chhawla in Delhi.

Police said two more accused, identified as Sachin and George, remain absconding. Preliminary probe also revealed that around Rs 60 lakh of the defrauded money was transferred through hawala channels to bank accounts of associates, including Jayakub’s wife.

According to police, the gang’s modus operandi involved luring Nepali citizens with job offers abroad, showing them fake documents, and collecting money and passports before vanishing.