A 24-year-old man has been arrested on charges of trying to obtain a student visa from the German embassy by submitting fake bank statements to show maintenance of funds, police said on Wednesday.
Navdeep Singh from Amritsar was arrested near the embassy in Chanakyapuri on Tuesday, said Satish Chander, station house officer of Chanakyapuri police station.
“Navdeep revealed the involvement of an agency in Chandigarh, which is involved in illegal activities of providing fake documents for submission at embassies. We are currently investigating all documents submitted by him,” Chander told Deccan Herald.
Chander said the action was taken over a complaint by Adam Karl-Heinrich, head of visa section at German embassy. Karl-Heinrich told police that Navdeep was suspected to have applied for a long-term visa under false pretences, and may have submitted at least one forged document.
“Navdeep had submitted his form on Tuesday to attend a German-intensive language course for six months in Germany,” Chander said.
He had also submitted his bank statements from May 1, 2011 to January 2, 2012. They showed a cleared balance of over Rs 7.19 crore, which appeared to be false.
Bank nails him
The embassy then contacted a State Bank of India official, who confirmed that the account number provided on the bank statements did not exist.
“Navdeep’s visa application was refused by the German embassy on the basis of the investigation,” Chander added.
A case has been filed against him with Chanakyapuri police station. He faces charges under Sections 468 (forgery for purpose of cheating), 471 (using as genuine a forged document or electronic record) and 420 (cheating) of the Indian Penal Code.
The 24-year-old could be imprisoned for seven years. Police are investigating the case.
Deccan Herald is on WhatsApp Channels| Join now for Breaking News & Editor's Picks