Hinjawadi, Pune ; In a significant breakthrough, the Hinjawadi Police, under the Pimpri Chinchwad police jurisdiction, has successfully dismantled a criminal syndicate involved in visa forgery. The operation, stemming from a crucial tip-off, led to the arrest of four individuals who orchestrated a scheme targeting job seekers aspiring to work in Brunei, Asia.
The arrested individuals – Vijay Pratap Singh, Kisan Dev Pandey, Hemant Sitaram Patil, and Kiran Arjun Raut – were apprehended for manufacturing counterfeit visas and defrauding approximately 125 people. Operating under the guise of a fictitious company named Blue Ocean Marine Company, the gang solicited real passports from unsuspecting victims, promising employment opportunities in Brunei. The accused then proceeded to affix fake Brunei country stamps, creating counterfeit visas.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Bapu Bangar provided details of the operation, stating that the accused, who had prior experience in the import-export business, conspired to devise a fraudulent scheme targeting individuals seeking employment abroad. The victims were enticed with promises of jobs as welders, drivers, and plumbers in Brunei. However, upon attempting to travel to Brunei, they discovered that their visas were fraudulent.
Prompted by complaints from victims like Manish Swamy, the Hinjawadi Police conducted a raid on the accused’s office, seizing incriminating evidence, including fake work orders, passports, electronic devices, and counterfeit stamps. The arrest of Kiran Raut, the shopkeeper who supplied the fake stamps, followed the raid. Additionally, 58 passports were recovered from a laundry establishment in Mamurdi, linked to one of the accused.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Bapu Bangar commended the Hinjawadi Police’s Detection Branch for their exemplary work in dismantling the criminal network and putting an end to the visa forgery racket.
