Human trafficking case: Travel agent arrested, sent to police custody

NEW DELHI: A Punjab-based travel agent, who had allegedly sent four persons abroad with the help of suspended BJP MP Babubhai Katara and other co-accused, was arrested and remanded to four-day police custody by a city court.

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Kamini Lau on Thursday on Thursday sent Satwant alias Santu to police custody till May 21 after he was produced before her following his arrest on Wednesday night.

Hoshiarpur-based Satwant, who is physically challenged, had sent four persons to a foreign country with the help of Katara and his personal secretary Rajender Kumar Gumpa, a co-accused in the human trafficking case, Investigating Officer Arvind Kumar told the court.

Katara was arrested on April 18 while trying to take a woman Paramjeet Kaur and a 15-year-old boy Amarjeet abroad on the passports of his wife and son respectively.

The name of Satwant cropped up during the interrogation of Paramjeet who had revealed to investigators that he had played an instrumental role in arranging her travel plans.

Accused Paramjeeet and the boy were introduced by Satwant to the MP, the IO said.

Besides Satwant, six persons including Katara had been arrested by the police in connection with the case.