In a joint operation, the Special Operations Group (SOG) and Dwarka district police dismantled a major fake passport scam, arresting nine individuals, including a suspended Talati-Mantri, involved in the fraudulent scheme. The accused were manipulating official birth records to generate fake birth certificates, helping individuals apply for UK visas.
The investigation began when the SOG received information about suspicious activities in the Devbhumi Dwarka district, where government birth records were being tampered with. The accused would erase legitimate entries and create false records on the village panchayat’s online portal. These fake records were then used to produce fraudulent birth certificates.
Hardikbhai S., a Talati-Mantri from Bhimshibhai Mayabhai Ravaliya, was found to be issuing these fake certificates. Upon questioning, he admitted to assisting a person from Porbandar in this scheme. The modus operandi involved targeting individuals wishing to travel to the UK, where fake birth certificates were created to show applicants as being under 21 years old, making it easier for them to obtain visas.
Following the creation of the fake birth certificates, other documents such as Aadhar cards were fabricated. These documents were then handed over to a passport agent, who uploaded the fraudulent documents to the passport portal. The passports were issued, and applicants were coached on how to handle questions during their visa interviews.
The racket also relied on individuals from Daman, Diu, and Goa, who possessed Portuguese passports dating back to 1960. These individuals could easily obtain European and UK citizenship, which they used to help their families, including spouses and children, secure UK visas and settle in the country.
The police have arrested the accused from multiple cities, including Porbandar, Valsad, Daman, and Dwarka, and are continuing the investigation to uncover more details of the scam.
