Mumbai Police Bust Visa Fraud Ring: 7 Students and Agent Arrested for Fraudulent UK Visit Visa Scheme

In a significant operation, the Mumbai Police apprehended seven aspiring students and an agent who were attempting to fly to London under the guise of a student exchange program. The arrests took place at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, as the group was preparing to board a flight to London via Jeddah, prompting a critical inspection by immigration officials. 

The investigation began on the night of March 9, when Bhatu Walke, an officer from the Bureau of Immigration (SIB), was checking the travel documents of departing passengers. When Jaskaran Singh and Harmandeep Singh presented their papers, Walke grew suspicious after they struggled to provide adequate answers about their studies at "Om Sterling Global University" in Hisar and their upcoming educational summit in London. 

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As further scrutiny unfolded, five more students arrived, claiming similar backgrounds and travel intentions. The situation escalated when Vijender Premchand, identified as a supposed professor, was questioned. He articulated that he had met the students, along with an agent named Bitta, in a hotel in Delhi, where Bitta had assured them of their trip to the UK in exchange for a hefty fee of 20 lakh rupees, instructing them to present fake documentation. 

The cunning operation relied on deceitful papers that falsely identified the students as registered at the aforementioned university, ultimately enabling them to procure fraudulent UK visit visas. Fueled by the aspiration to study abroad, the group unwittingly fell into the trap set by the fraudulent agent. 

The Sahar Police, upon receiving a comprehensive report, lodged a First Information Report (FIR) against the eight individuals, under Section 12 of the Indian Passport Act and various relevant sections of the BNS. The crucial case has since been transferred to the Mumbai Crime Branch for in-depth investigation and further action. 

As the police delve deeper into this elaborate fraud, this incident serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of falling prey to visa scams and highlights the rigorous checks in place at immigration points to protect aspiring students from becoming victims of exploitation. 

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