Rs 4cr fraud: 25 youths duped on promise of UK work permits

The Ludhiana police have booked a Gujarat-based travel agent for duping 25 Punjab youths of Rs 4 crore on the pretext of sending them to the UK on work permits.

A case has been registered against Mihul Soni, Director of Current Consultant Private Limited, Gandhinagar, Gujarat.

The FIR was lodged following a complaint by Sukhchain Singh, a resident of Jaito in Faridkot district. The accused has been charged under sections related to cheating and the Immigration Act.

Investigating Officer ASI Sukhdeep Singh stated that the police will soon arrest the accused.

According to the IO, complainant Sukhchain Singh had filed a complaint with senior police officials on June 16, 2025. Sukhchain had stated that he intended to send 25 youths to the UK on work permits and contacted Mihul Soni, a travel agent and consultant based in Gujarat.

Soni promised to secure work visas for the 25 individuals, prepared their documents, and collected over Rs 4 crore. However, he accused failed to deliver on his promise, thereby committing a breach of trust and fraud.

The complainant told the police that as part of the deal, the accused had assured him of sending all youths to the UK soon. After receiving the payment, the accused sent three youths abroad.

Upon arriving abroad, the youths discovered that the work permits they held were fake. “After facing significant harassment and hardship, the three youths eventually returned to India,” the complainant said.

The police are conducting raids to arrest the accused.

‘Tainted’ travel agents running business

Despite facing cases, many travel agents have been running offices in the name of other persons and duping gullible youths wanting to go abroad.

A city-based travel agent is still into the immigration business and duping the innocents, despite facing many FIRs.