In a major breakthrough in the ongoing crackdown on fraudulent immigration consultants, the Punjab Police’s NRI Affairs wing has arrested travel agent Anil Batra. He is one of the four accused in an illegal immigration scam that has been under investigation.
This arrest follows the registration of 10 FIRs by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Punjab Police, targeting travel agents who allegedly deceived individuals with false promises of illegal entry into the United States, ultimately leading to their deportation.
The SIT, which was formed under the guidance of Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav, has been investigating numerous complaints about fraudulent travel agents involved in illegal immigration practices. The team has been encouraging deported individuals to come forward and assist in identifying those responsible for the scam.
Under the directions of ADGP NRI Affairs Praveen Sinha, a police team arrested Anil Batra in Patiala. The operation was led by SHO of the NRI Police Station, Inspector Abhey Singh Chauhan, with the supervision of SP NRI Affairs Patiala, Gurbans Singh Bains.
Batra, a resident of Shanti Nagar, Teka Market in Thanesar, Kurukshetra (Haryana), was apprehended at his in-laws’ house in Patiala (5-E Partap Nagar). He has been booked under FIR No. 06, dated February 8, 2025, for sections 406, 420, 370, and 120-B of the IPC, along with Section 24 of the Emigration Act.
Investigations have revealed that Batra helped facilitate illegal immigration by arranging a visa for Suriname and a flight ticket for the victim. The victim traveled overland through South and Central American countries, including Brazil, Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, and Mexico, before entering the United States illegally with the assistance of traffickers. As of February 14, 2025, Batra’s bank account containing Rs 6.35 lakhs has been frozen.
DGP Gaurav Yadav reaffirmed Punjab Police’s commitment to dismantling human trafficking networks and protecting vulnerable individuals. He urged the public to report any information related to such scams and advised citizens to use only licensed immigration agents and thoroughly verify their credentials.
