The Hindu : National : Passport scam: CBI files cases in Tiruchi

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Thursday, Sep 30, 2004

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National

Passport scam: CBI files cases in Tiruchi

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, SEPT. 29. The Central Bureau of Investigation has registered a case against five persons and some public servants for issuing Indian passports to Sri Lankan Tamils and others based on false and forged documents with the connivance of certain passport officials in Tiruchi, Tamil Nadu.

The case was registered as a part of special anti-corruption drive launched by the agency today. Searches were conducted at 11 places — six residential and five office premises of the accused. The CBI acted on a complaint by the Ministry of External Affairs that mentioned 146 references in which passports were issued on the basis of forged and false documents. On verification, it was found that in 54 cases allegations were true, the CBI Director, U.S. Mishra, said today. During the searches, it was found that Suruli Rajan, a clerk in the Tiruchi Passport Office, in the last two years had purchased two plots and jewellery worth lakhs of rupees. Similarly, searches in the house of R. Sadagopan, casual labour in RPO, Tiruchi and Pappiah, mail carrier at Koppanapatti post office, Pudukottal district , Tamil Nadu, led to the discovery of a number of filled passport application forms, cash receipts, fake police seals, fake certificates and ration cards. Searches were continuing when the reports last came in at the CBI headquarters here.

Contact with missions

The agency received an information that a group was operating from Delhi and neighbouring States in illegally sending people to the U.S., the U.K., Germany and other countries by accepting huge amounts to the tune of Rs. 8 lakhs to 9 lakhs. The group had contacts with the employees of foreign missions in Delhi as well as immigration authorities which reportedly facilitated procuring of forged visas and boarding of flights from Delhi airport. In certain cases, the passports were forged by pasting another photograph on the passport after removing the earlier one in such a manner that at a cursory glance it would not reveal any forgery. The linkages of the racket have been found in West Bengal and Orissa.

The racketeers were involved in sending persons from India, Nepal and Bangladesh to West Asia countries.

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