8 travel agents dupe residents of Rs 1.58 cr, 3 cases filed

The Ludhiana police registered three FIRs of travel fraud on Monday in which agents had duped people of over Rs 1.58 crore.

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The first case of was registered by the Moti Nagar police against three travel agents, identified as Mahi Sharma, Ishika, alias Noor, Ravinder Singh, alias Vicky, and five unidentified persons from Nova Enterprises, Industrial Area, here. Earlier also, a case was registered against the firm for committing a travel fraud.

The complainant, Jyoti Bala, a resident of Phillaur, in her complaint to the police stated that the suspects had promised to send her son to Australia and in lieu, they had taken Rs 4.26 lakh in advance. Despite taking the money, the suspects had issued them a fake visa and when the suspects were questioned for the same, they failed to give any satisfactory reply. Even when they were asked to return the money, they started making hollow promises.

ASI Anil Kumar said after registering a case, further probe was launched. The suspects were yet to be nabbed.

Another case was registered against three agents, Daljit Singh, Sarabjit Singh, both residents of Nadala village, Kapurthala, and Jagat Joshi, a local resident.

Complainant Gurkaran Singh of Model Town told the police that the suspects had assured to send his friend Akashvir and his family to the US on work permit and took Rs 1.40 crore. But they failed to arrange visa. They also refused to return the money. The police should take strict action against them to recover their money.

ASI Pardeep Kumar said after registering a case, further investigation was launched.

The Model Town police also registered a travel fraud case against two agents, identified as Veenu Malhotra and Karan from Global Way Immigration, Model Town. A case was registered on the complaint of Chandeep Singh of Dhuri Sangrur. The complainant alleged that the suspects had taken Rs 14 lakh on the pretext of sending him abroad but they failed to fulfil their promise. He also repeatedly requested them to return the money but in vain. SI Parminder Singh said investigation was launched in the case. Notably several FIRs were already registered against the immigration firm in the past for duping people of several lakhs of rupees.

Those running offices in others’ name under lens

Police sources said the role of old notorious travel agents, who had been facing many cases of travel fraud and start duping foreign aspirants again after coming out on bail, was under scanner. Such agents, who were already facing travel fraud cases and could not start travel offices in their names, had reportedly started travel and immigration office in the names of other persons.