Illegal immigration racket busted in Mumbai, 2 held

The Mumbai Crime Branch has busted an illegal immigration racket, arresting Ashim Ahmed Ali Ansari, 33, and Chaitali Sanjay Patel alias Reshma Ashim Ansari, 26. The duo posed as a couple and applied for US visas with fake passports.

According to sources, the duo applied for non-immigrant visas. On Monday, they were called to the consulate or an interview. “The consulate staff suspected that their passports were not genuine and learnt that they had applied for visas under fake names. The consulate’s assistant regional security officer lodged a complaint with the Gamdevi police station on Monday,” said a Crime Branch official, requesting anonymity.

During inquiry, Chaitali revealed her real name. She also said she resides at Prarthna Bungalow of Vasaiavas area in Mehsana, Gujarat. “Ansari revealed that a Mumbai-based agent recruited him to pose as Chaitali’s husband for procuring the visas.

Chaitali had an Indian passport, in the name of Reshma, issued by the Pune RPO. Ansari’s passport was issued from Mumbai,” said the officer.

The police also claimed that their passports bore stamps of two used visas of Malaysia and Thailand. “Upon inquiry, it was learnt that these visas and immigration stamps were fake. We are now trying to trace the agent, as this could possibly be a huge immigration racket being operated from Mumbai,” said the officer.

They have been booked under the Indian Penal Code and the Indian Passport Act for forgery and cheating. They were produced before a local court and have been remanded in police custody till December 22.