Fake passport racket busted, three held

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Follow us:WhatsappFacebookTwitterTelegram.cls-1{fill:#4d4d4d;}.cls-2{fill:#fff;}Google NewsA ‘couple’ was denied visa by the US consulate here on August 14. Suspecting them of being fraudsters, the consulate tipped off the police who on Thursday busted a fake passport racket, based in Western India but operating out of here, and arrested three persons, including a woman, for alleged involvement in selling and buying fake passports and visas to the US. The task force of police apprehended Rajesh Sheshgiri Kamath (48) of Thane, Maharashtra; Yadneshwar Vasant Thakur (49) of Mumbai, and Vaishali Kanubhai Patel (34) of Ahmedabad, from Hotel Aanchal International, Nampally and seized fake passports, documents and a cash sum of Rs 35 Lakh. The kingpin of the racket Vijay Bhatt (55) and his associate Zakir Yusuf Sheikh of Mumbai are, however, still absconding.Vijay Bhatt facilitated passports to men and women who aspired to migrate to the US by presenting them as couples before the US consulate. Each ‘client’ was charged Rs 30-35 lakh for a passport and other requisite documents like bank statements, IT returns, income proof and PAN cards.Rajesh used to secure men who were ready to pose as husbands of prospective female clients, after which Vijay would collect the original passports of the men and prepare fictitious passports for the women, with the name of their ‘partners’. They would then train their clients about the probable questions asked at the consulate. Vaishali approached Vijay six months ago for a US visa to marry her fiance in New Jersey and paid Rs 35 lakh for it. After receiving the amount, Vijay instructed Rajesh to search for a male ‘partner’ for her.He contracted Yadneshwar and offered him a good sum. Yadneshwar gave his original passport to Rajesh from which a fake passport was made for Vaishali.first published:August 17, 2012, 10:04 ISTlast updated:August 17, 2012, 10:04 IST
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A ‘couple’ was denied visa by the US consulate here on August 14. Suspecting them of being fraudsters, the consulate tipped off the police who on Thursday busted a fake passport racket, based in Western India but operating out of here, and arrested three persons, including a woman, for alleged involvement in selling and buying fake passports and visas to the US. The task force of police apprehended Rajesh Sheshgiri Kamath (48) of Thane, Maharashtra; Yadneshwar Vasant Thakur (49) of Mumbai, and Vaishali Kanubhai Patel (34) of Ahmedabad, from Hotel Aanchal International, Nampally and seized fake passports, documents and a cash sum of Rs 35 Lakh. The kingpin of the racket Vijay Bhatt (55) and his associate Zakir Yusuf Sheikh of Mumbai are, however, still absconding.

Vijay Bhatt facilitated passports to men and women who aspired to migrate to the US by presenting them as couples before the US consulate. Each ‘client’ was charged Rs 30-35 lakh for a passport and other requisite documents like bank statements, IT returns, income proof and PAN cards.

Rajesh used to secure men who were ready to pose as husbands of prospective female clients, after which Vijay would collect the original passports of the men and prepare fictitious passports for the women, with the name of their ‘partners’. They would then train their clients about the probable questions asked at the consulate. Vaishali approached Vijay six months ago for a US visa to marry her fiance in New Jersey and paid Rs 35 lakh for it. After receiving the amount, Vijay instructed Rajesh to search for a male ‘partner’ for her.

He contracted Yadneshwar and offered him a good sum. Yadneshwar gave his original passport to Rajesh from which a fake passport was made for Vaishali.