Hyderabad, Dec 03: A racket allegedly involved in preparing fake documents for US visas was busted today and five persons were arrested in this connection, police said. Search was on for 15 other members of the gang, including five Chennai-based agents, Police Commissioner R P Singh told reporters here.
The kingpin of the racket, Shaik Abdul Rasheed (56), a retired bank employee, used to contact aspirants seeking to visit US on visiting visa, with a promise to provide fake documents including it papers, financial statement, bank challans, PAN cards and other required documents, he said.
Rasheed, a resident of Hyderabad, has sent 11 candidates on visiting visa to USA and collected Rs two lakh each from the aspirants during the last two years, he said.
Police seized a computer, 186 genuine passports, 143 fake rubber stamps and 36 fake documents including income tax and other papers from the possession of arrested persons, Singh said, adding the gang has been doing this illegal business for the last two years and submitted 50 applications for visa processing.
On a tip-off by US consulate in Chennai, a special team led by N Shiva Shanker Reddy, DCP and D Ram Das, inspector of task force nabbed five persons, all residents of Hyderabad.
A special team of city task force is leaving for Chennai to nab five agents, he said and added that the special team would also approach US consulate in Chennai to seek information about 11 candidates who are now in USA. Bureau Report