<p>Mumbai: The Central Bureau of Investigation (<a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/cbi">CBI</a>) -- in a major swoop -- arrested two accused, including an official working at Passport Seva Kendra (PSK), in Lower Parel, and an agent in a case related to issuing passports based on fake documents in lieu of a bribe.</p><p>The PSK Junior Office Assistant and Verification Officer was identified as Akshay Kumar Meena, and the agent is Bhavesh Shantilal Shah.</p><p>The case was registered by CBI against Office Assistant/VO, PSK, Lower Parel, Mumbai and other private persons working as passport agents.</p><p> It was alleged in the FIR that during the years 2023-2024, the said accused public servant entered a criminal conspiracy with other private persons and in furtherance of the said criminal conspiracy, he has been obtaining undue advantage for doing passport-related work.</p><p>“In furtherance of the conspiracy with agents and other unknown persons, accused public servants have been issued fake passports of the applicants based on forged documents,” CBI officials said.</p>.Bangladeshi man, agent held for helping 17 illegal immigrants acquire Indian passports.<p>The probe revealed that seven persons purporting as applicants had submitted forged documents such as Aadhar card copy, Pan card copy, bank account statement and birth certificates as their address and identity proofs, in the Passport Office. During the investigation, all the documents provided by them have also been found to be forged. </p><p>Further, communications and chats between the accused public servant and agent revealed discussion about payment of undue advantage concerning these fake passport applicants, the officials said. </p><p>Investigation also revealed that mobile numbers provided by applicants in the passport applications are not in service. </p><p>The Police Verification reports carried out after issuance of those passports under Tatkaal Scheme (which were earlier waived of during issuance of passports) have been found to be adverse, as addresses given on passport applications were fake.</p><p>Both the accused were produced before court, which remanded them to CBI custody till June 2.</p>
<p>Mumbai: The Central Bureau of Investigation (<a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/cbi">CBI</a>) -- in a major swoop -- arrested two accused, including an official working at Passport Seva Kendra (PSK), in Lower Parel, and an agent in a case related to issuing passports based on fake documents in lieu of a bribe.</p><p>The PSK Junior Office Assistant and Verification Officer was identified as Akshay Kumar Meena, and the agent is Bhavesh Shantilal Shah.</p><p>The case was registered by CBI against Office Assistant/VO, PSK, Lower Parel, Mumbai and other private persons working as passport agents.</p><p> It was alleged in the FIR that during the years 2023-2024, the said accused public servant entered a criminal conspiracy with other private persons and in furtherance of the said criminal conspiracy, he has been obtaining undue advantage for doing passport-related work.</p><p>“In furtherance of the conspiracy with agents and other unknown persons, accused public servants have been issued fake passports of the applicants based on forged documents,” CBI officials said.</p>.Bangladeshi man, agent held for helping 17 illegal immigrants acquire Indian passports.<p>The probe revealed that seven persons purporting as applicants had submitted forged documents such as Aadhar card copy, Pan card copy, bank account statement and birth certificates as their address and identity proofs, in the Passport Office. During the investigation, all the documents provided by them have also been found to be forged. </p><p>Further, communications and chats between the accused public servant and agent revealed discussion about payment of undue advantage concerning these fake passport applicants, the officials said. </p><p>Investigation also revealed that mobile numbers provided by applicants in the passport applications are not in service. </p><p>The Police Verification reports carried out after issuance of those passports under Tatkaal Scheme (which were earlier waived of during issuance of passports) have been found to be adverse, as addresses given on passport applications were fake.</p><p>Both the accused were produced before court, which remanded them to CBI custody till June 2.</p>