Fake US visa: Court upholds charges against woman SI

The framing of forgery and cheating charges against a Delhi Police woman has been upheld by a court here for allegedly conspiring with her husband and others in procuring a fake US visa for a person who was arrested at a New York airport and deported back.

Additional Sessions Judge Rajneesh Kumar Gupta upheld the charges of forgery, cheating and criminal conspiracy against Sub-Inspector Vidhu Sharma, rejecting her contention that no prosecution could be initiated against her without prior sanction as per the Delhi Police Act.

The court observed that her argument "is without any merits as the alleged offence cannot be said to be committed by her in the discharge of her official duties".

It said there was sufficient evidence to prima facie show her involvement in the conspiracy to cheat Gurdev Singh, a Delhi resident, by procuring a fake visa for him for travelling to America.

"I am of the opinion that there is prima facie material on record to frame the charge against the petitioner under section 120­B (criminal conspiracy), 420 (cheating), 468 (forgery) and 471 (using forged document as genuine) of IPC," the judge said.

The cop was booked on Singh's complaint that Sharma, her husband Pradeep Sharma and three other co­accused had "induced" him to deliver a sum of Rs six lakh for a visa which later turned out to be fake resulting in his arrest at a New York Airport.

Singh was arrested in April 2000 by US immigration officials and was deported back to India in November that year.

Sharma had challenged the framing of charges against her by a lower court and said the order was "against the facts and the law" and there was no material to show her involvement in the conspiracy.

The court, however, upheld charges and said, "I do not find any infirmity or illegality in the impugned order dated passed on July 2, 2011 by the trial court and it is upheld".