FIRST ACCUSED SENT TO JUDICIAL CUSTODY AFTER RECOVERY OF ₹50 THOUSANDS CASH; QUESTIONING OF HUSBAND AND WIFE CONTINUES DURING TWO-DAY POLICE REMAND, PEOPLE WERE DUPED THROUGH ONLINE PLATFORMS, A FAKE CENTRE WAS ALSO BEING RUN IN CHANDIGARH, AROUND 15 CASES REGISTERED IN CHANDIGARH
Face2News/Panchkula
The Anti-Immigration Fraud Unit of Panchkula Police has taken strict action against a gang cheating youths of lakhs of rupees on the pretext of sending them abroad, arresting three accused including a husband and wife. The accused used to pose as overseas placement agents operating an office in Sector-17, Chandigarh, and lured people with promises of sending them to Europe.
The complainant, originally from Himachal Pradesh and presently residing in Panchkula, stated that he came in contact with a person through an online platform who claimed to be an overseas agent with an office in Sector-17, Chandigarh. On 30 August 2024, he was called to Chandigarh with documents, where ₹1,55,000 was taken from him as an advance on the pretext of arranging a work visa for Luxembourg (Europe). Despite a long time passing, he was neither sent abroad nor was his money returned.
Based on the complaint, an FIR was registered at Chandimandir Police Station on 23 July 2025 under Sections 316(2) and 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Section 24 of the Immigration Act. Considering the seriousness of the case, the investigation was handed over to the Anti-Immigration Fraud Unit, Panchkula.
DCP Panchkula Srishti Gupta, further investigation led to the arrest of two more accused on 29 January—Anubhav Garg, resident of Sangrur (Punjab), and his wife Akanksha. Preliminary investigation has revealed that as many as 15 fraud cases related to overseas travel are already registered against them in Chandigarh. Both were produced before the court on Thursday and a two-day police remand was obtained. During the remand, police will recovered the cheated amount from their share and gathering information about other victims and the wider network involved.
Under the leadership of Inspector Yogvinder Singh, In-charge of the Anti-Immigration Fraud Unit, the team first arrested the prime accused Bhateh Singh, resident of Kangra district (Himachal Pradesh), currently a tenant in Mohali, on 22 January. He was produced before the court on 23 January and a three-day police remand was obtained. During interrogation, the accused recovered ₹50,000 from his share of the cheated amount and provided important information regarding the role of other accused. After completion of the remand period, he was sent to judicial custody on 26 January.
DCP Panchkula Srishti Gupta, further investigation led to the arrest of two more accused on 29 January—Anubhav Garg, resident of Sangrur (Punjab), and his wife Akanksha. Preliminary investigation has revealed that as many as 15 fraud cases related to overseas travel are already registered against them in Chandigarh. Both were produced before the court on Thursday and a two-day police remand was obtained. During the remand, police will recovered the cheated amount from their share and gathering information about other victims and the wider network involved.