A significant passport fraud case was uncovered at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International (SVPI) Airport after an Indian citizen was caught attempting to travel abroad under a false identity. The accused, Jignesh Jagdishbhai Patel (30), a resident of Kalol, Gandhinagar, was deported from the United States and arrived in India via Panama and New Delhi, where immigration officials discovered the deception.
According to airport authorities, Patel had initially departed from Delhi Airport on February 3, 2025, aboard an Air Canada flight (AC-051) bound for Canada. During his travels, he used a passport issued under the name Wasim Khalil. However, after being deported from the U.S., Patel returned to India, presenting an Emergency Certificate issued in Panama and falsely claiming that his original Indian passport had been lost.
Upon further investigation, immigration officers noticed discrepancies in his travel records, as they could find no record of his departure under the supposedly ‘lost’ passport. When questioned more closely, Patel admitted to impersonating Wasim Khalil and using a different passport to leave India. A system check confirmed the fraudulent travel, and Patel’s actions were brought to light.
This case highlights the growing concern of passport fraud and identity theft, with immigration officials taking swift action to uncover and address such offenses.
