Daijiworld Media Network - Jaipur

Jaipur, May 20: Rajasthan Police have uncovered a suspected interstate fake visa racket after arresting three men at Jaipur International Airport for allegedly attempting to fly to Iraq using forged tourist visas, officials confirmed on Wednesday.

The accused — Suresh Kumar (47) from Ambedkar Nagar in Uttar Pradesh, Alok Kumar Singh (31) from Patna, Bihar, and Rupesh Yadav (32) from East Champaran, Bihar — were intercepted during document checks before boarding a flight to Baghdad.

According to DCP (East) Ranjita Sharma, airport authorities noticed irregularities in the travel documents during routine verification, prompting further scrutiny. During questioning, the men allegedly admitted that they could not travel on their original multiple-entry Iraq visas and later contacted a Jaipur-based agent, Mukesh Lakhar, who promised to arrange alternative tourist visas.

Police said the trio reached Jaipur on May 17 following the agent’s directions and stayed at a hotel near the Polo Victory area. Investigators revealed that the accused were later handed forged visas and were allegedly briefed on how to answer immigration officials if questioned.

They were reportedly instructed to claim that they were travelling to Baghdad to repair a machine exported from Jaipur that had developed technical problems. However, officials became suspicious due to inconsistencies in their responses and documents.

As interrogation intensified, the accused allegedly became nervous, leading authorities to detain and later arrest them.

Police recovered three fake tourist visas from their possession and registered a case at the Airport Police Station under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

Officials said investigators are now focusing on identifying the wider network involved in preparing forged travel documents and facilitating illegal overseas travel operations. The three accused have been produced before a court, while further investigation is underway.