CHANDIGARH: Continuing its crackdown on fraudulent immigration consultants exploiting innocent individuals, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted by the Punjab Police has registered two more first information reports (FIRs) against travel agents, taking the total number of FIRs to 10.
The latest FIRs were filed against agents who allegedly deceived victims with false promises of facilitating illegal entry into the United States, resulting in their deportation.
The details of the latest FIRs includes FIR No. 4 dated 11/2/2025 registered against Jaskaran Singh, Mahinder Singh, Hardev Kaur, and Sujan Singh, all residents of Tahli in Tanda, District Hoshiarpur and FIR No. 5 dated 11/2/2025 registered against Agent Happy of Tanda in Hoshiarpur and Agent Gill of Tarn Taran, under relevant sections of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Emigration Act at Police Station NRI Hoshiarpur.
The SIT, headed by ADGP NRI Affairs Praveen Sinha, has been investigating complaints from deportees who were defrauded by travel agents with false promises of illegal entry into the US. The team has recorded statements of deportees and registered FIRs against fraudulent travel agents.
Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav reaffirmed Punjab Police's commitment to act against the chain of fraudulent immigration networks and end the exploitation of vulnerable individuals.
He also urged all citizens to come forward with any information that could help in arresting these culprits. Public cooperation is essential in dismantling these fraudulent networks, he said, while adding that people should also raise awareness among themselves to prevent others from falling prey to such fraudulent immigration consultants.
ADGP NRI Affairs Praveen Sinha said that the NRI Affairs Wing and the district police are working in close coordination to ensure quick and strong action against those named in the FIRs. All forward and backward linkages shall be examined with an aim to cripple and demolish the whole network, he said.
The Punjab Police strongly advises that individuals seeking immigration services to only take the legal route, only opt for licensed agents and verify their credentials before making any commitments.
Pertinently, in late 2024, Punjab Police’s NRI Affairs Wing and Cyber Crime Wing, in coordination with the Protectorate of Emigrants, Chandigarh, had booked 43 travel agencies for illegally advertising jobs abroad on social media without requisite licenses.