Promising Czech visa, couple dupes 5 youths of Rs 39 lakh

Tribune News Service

Moga, August 17

A couple running a travel agency in Moga city has duped five youths of Rs 39 lakh on the pretext of sending them to the Czech Republic.

The police after conducting a preliminary inquiry have registered a case under Sections 420, 406, 120-B of the IPC and Section 13 of the Prevention of Human Smuggling Act, 2012, against the couple identified as Gurdhir Singh and his wife Avneet Kaur.

Investigation officer Inspector Lakhwinder Singh told mediapersons that the couple had shut down their office and their whereabouts were not known. “We have conducted raids at their house, but they were not present there. We are making all efforts to nab them,” he said.

Baltej Singh of Sukhanand village, one of the victims, said he was working as a radiographer at a private hospital in Moga city where Avneet came for a medical check-up a few months ago. She told him that she was running a travel agency that helped to send skilled workers to European countries. She promised to send him to the Czech Republic.

Baltej went to her office where she took his passport and filled certain forms for obtaining visa. He gave her Rs 7 lakh by transferring it through bank. On February 22, Avneet and her husband asked him to visit Delhi for obtaining visa, but he did not get it. When he visited the couple’s office, it was found locked. He tried to locate them, but in vain.

Later, he gave a complaint to the SSP who marked an inquiry into it. The anti-human trafficking cell of the police conducted an inquiry and found that many youths were duped by the couple.

During the inquiry, it came to light that the couple duped Amandeep Singh of Gulab Singh Wala village of Rs 7.5 lakh, Sohan Singh of Mehna village of Rs 7.5 lakh, Laljit Singh of Gulab Singh Wala village of Rs 7.5 lakh and Harjit Singh of Sukhanand village of Rs 9 lakh. The police did not rule out the possibility of many other youths having been duped by the couple.

Overseas dream turns sour

• Baltej Singh of Sukhanand village said he was working as a radiographer at a Moga hospital where Avneet came for a medical check-up a few months ago. 
• She told him that she was running a travel agency and promised to send him to the Czech Republic.  
• He gave her Rs 7 lakh. On February 22, Avneet and her husband asked him to visit Delhi for obtaining visa, but he did not get it. When he visited the couple’s office, it was found locked. He tried to locate them, but in vain.