After more than two and a half years on the run, Gujarat police’s State Monitoring Cell (SMC) has arrested Bipin Darji, a key member of a human trafficking network. Darji is reportedly the partner of Bharat alias Bobby Patel, the notorious ‘Dingucha kingpin’ linked to the tragic deaths of a Gujarati family on the US-Canada border in 2022.
Darji operated as a field agent in the Mehsana region, luring clients aspiring to settle in the US illegally. He collected documents, arranged fake passports and visas, and coordinated payments with Bobby Patel and other agents involved in the transnational racket.
The SMC began investigating after an FIR was registered in 2022 at Sola High Court police station, covering charges including cheating, forgery, criminal conspiracy, and violations of the Indian Passport Act. A lookout circular and a Rs 25,000 reward were issued for information leading to Darji’s arrest.
Technical and human surveillance revealed Darji’s imminent arrival in Vijapur. He was intercepted at Vijapur Crossroads on Friday night and taken into custody, where he confessed to his involvement, admitting he had been in hiding across several states to evade arrest.
So far, 12 accused have been arrested, including Bobby Patel, who has been in judicial custody since December 2022. Patel is believed to have facilitated illegal travel for over 1,500 people from North Gujarat, including a family whose tragic deaths near the US-Canada border in January 2022 made headlines.
Investigations showed Patel had fraudulently obtained 28 passports by altering details, allowing him to travel undetected. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested Patel in July under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in connection with this human trafficking case.
The network reportedly charged Rs 60 lakh to Rs 1.75 crore per person or family for illegal passage. Authorities continue to hunt other accused still at large, including Munna Khatri in Canada and Munna Maken in the US.
