Travel agent who disguised youth as aged to bypass airport security held
Samad Hoque
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, August 5
A travel agent from Rudrapur, Uttarakhand, has been arrested for disguising a 24-year-old to make him look like a senior citizen in order to bypass stringent security checks at the Indira Gandhi International Airport, officials said on Monday.
The accused, Gurmukh Singh (24), was arrested for his involvement in arranging counterfeit travel documents for a couple attempting to illegally enter Canada.
According to officials, the syndicate was operating under the guise of a visa consultancy firm named “Unitrek Global” in Rudrapur. Gurmukh Singh, who ran the firm, was actively involved in the illegal procurement and distribution of passports issued in other individuals’ names, facilitating unauthorised travel for his clients.
The case came to light on June 18 when a passenger, Gurusewak Singh (24), arrived at IGI Airport intending to board a flight to Canada. Gurusewak was found travelling on a passport issued in the name of Rashvinder Singh (67). Airport officials became suspicious when they noticed discrepancies between the passenger’s appearance and the details on his travel documents.
Upon further questioning, Gurusewak admitted his real identity and disclosed that the passport had been arranged by an agent named Jagjeet Singh, alias Jaggi, the police said.
The police arrested Gurusewak Singh following this revelation, leading to further investigation.
Deputy Commissioner of Police, IGI, Usha Rangnani, said, “The passenger revealed that he, along with his wife, had paid Rs 30 lakh to Jaggi, who promised to arrange their travel to the US via Canada using forged documents. Jaggi, in turn, collaborated with Gurmukh Singh to procure the fraudulent passports. Gurusewak’s wife, Archana Kaur, was also apprehended at the airport while attempting to board the same flight using another counterfeit passport.”
“During sustained interrogation, Gurmukh Singh confessed to his role in the scheme and disclosed that he had been working with Jaggi on a commission basis,” the DCP said.
“He admitted to arranging two passports for the couple’s journey to the US via Canada and to being involved in cheating other individuals in a similar fashion to make quick money,” another official said.
Last month, the police arrested 13 travel agents who attempted to send their clients abroad using fraudulent means.
