The Hindu : Front Page : Hyderabad-based travel agent surrenders

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Friday, May 04, 2007
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Hyderabad-based travel agent surrenders

Staff Reporter

Rasheed

HYDERABAD: Mazharuddin Ali alias Rasheed, alleged kingpin of a human smuggling racket involving suspended Bharatiya Janata Party MP Babubhai Katara, surrendered at the Central Crime Station here on Thursday. He was later arrested.

A resident of Malakpet here, Rasheed (42), a travel agent, was wanted by the Delhi and Hyderabad police after Mr. Katara said he arranged visas and air tickets for taking abroad persons with fake identities.

Telangana Rashtra Samithi legislator Kasipeta Lingaiah, who was arrested recently on similar charges, also claimed that Rasheed had arranged his passport.

Hyderabad Police Commissioner Balwinder Singh said, "Rasheed is with us, and we are looking into his involvement in the case. We will also find out how many people are involved, how many passports he forged and who benefited."

Rasheed is alleged to have got passports and travel documents prepared for several politicians. Interestingly, he was arrested in a fake passport case in 2003.

However, Rasheed maintained his innocence. "I have done what people asked me to do. I have not done anything on my own. After reading my name in newspapers, I came to meet the police with the help of my advocate," he told investigators.

He claimed that he had never met Mr. Katara.

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