ACCUSED USED FAKE JOB LETTER AND AIR TICKET TO TRAP VICTIM; HABITUAL OFFENDER WITH FOUR PREVIOUS CASES, HAILS FROM LUDHIANA AND LIVING IN RENTED HOUSE IN MOHALI
Face2News/Panchkula
Panchkula Police have exposed a major fraud involving overseas placement after arresting a fake immigration agent who allegedly cheated a local resident of nearly ₹9 lakh on the pretext of securing a New Zealand work visa. The accused was arrested following a complaint and has been sent to judicial custody after due legal process.
According to the complaint submitted to the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Police, the Panchkula resident came to know about the accused, identified as Mandeep, through an acquaintance. The accused claimed to be an agent for New Zealand work visas. The two met in June 2023, after which the accused gained the victim’s trust and collected necessary documents.
CP Panchkula Srishti Gupta stated that the accused is a habitual offender, with four cases already registered against him in Panchkula and Punjab for cheating people in the name of providing work visas for New Zealand and Canada.
Over time, citing various procedures and fees, the accused allegedly took a total of ₹9 lakh from the victim. To further gain confidence, he showed fake job offer letters and forged airline tickets. Despite repeated assurances, neither was the victim sent abroad nor was the money returned. The accused later refused outright and reduced contact. To appear genuine, he was operating an office in Sector 17-C, Chandigarh.
Based on the complaint, a case was registered at Chandimandir Police Station under Sections 406, 420 and 120-B of the Indian Penal Code and Section 24 of the Immigration Act. During investigation, a team led by Anti-Immigration Fraud Unit In-charge Inspector Yogvinder Singh arrested the accused, Mandeep Singh, a resident of Ludhiana, Punjab (currently living as a tenant in Mohali) on January 27.The accused was produced before the court on January 28 and a three-day police remand was obtained. During detailed interrogation, no involvement of any other accused has surfaced so far. After completion of the remand period, the accused was sent to judicial custody.
DCP Panchkula Srishti Gupta stated that the accused is a habitual offender, with four cases already registered against him in Panchkula and Punjab for cheating people in the name of providing work visas for New Zealand and Canada. She said such fake agents exploit the dreams of youths, causing severe financial and mental distress.
Appealing to the public, DCP Gupta advised aspirants to approach only authorised and government-recognised immigration agents, and not to make any payments without proper documentation, written agreements and official verification. Any suspected fraud should be immediately reported to the police.
Shivas Kaviraj, ADGP (Police Commissioner, Panchkula and Chairman – Illegal Migration Cases, Haryana), said that Panchkula Police have a zero-tolerance policy against networks cheating youths in the name of overseas opportunities. “Such criminals will not be spared under any circumstances. Protecting the hard-earned money and future of our youth remains our top priority, and strict action against such gangs will continue,” he said.