The Delhi Police Crime Branch has launched a probe into a large-scale US visa fraud, targeting over 30 visa and passport agents primarily operating from Punjab and Haryana. The investigation follows a complaint filed by the US Embassy in New Delhi on February 27, which highlighted fraudulent practices by agents submitting fake documents and false information to secure US visas for applicants.
According to the complaint, these agents—both identified and unknown—were involved in manipulating visa applications, deceiving the US Embassy, and facilitating fraudulent immigration processes. The US Embassy’s internal investigation, conducted between May and August 2024, traced multiple IP addresses and passport delivery addresses linked to visa consultancies and document vendors. The embassy provided a detailed list of suspects, including both agents and applicants, involved in submitting fraudulent educational certificates, employment records, and bank statements.
Case Registered Under Multiple Sections
Based on the complaint, the Delhi Police has filed an FIR under Sections 318, 336, and 340 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with Section 66(D) of the Information Technology Act. The Delhi Police Crime Branch has begun a thorough investigation to identify and prosecute those responsible for the scam.
Indian Researcher Detained in the US
In a related development, US federal immigration authorities have detained Badar Khan Suri, an Indian national and postdoctoral researcher at Georgetown University, in Virginia. Reports indicate that masked agents arrested him outside his residence in Arlington’s Rosslyn neighborhood. The officials, identifying themselves as members of the US Department of Homeland Security, informed Suri that his student visa had been revoked.
A lawsuit has been filed demanding his immediate release, arguing that he has no criminal record and has not been charged with any offense. The legal petition claims that Suri was placed in deportation proceedings under a provision of US immigration law, which grants the Secretary of State the authority to deport non-citizens if their presence is deemed a threat to US foreign policy. The same provision was reportedly used to deport Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University graduate student and green card holder involved in pro-Palestinian protests on campus.
The case has drawn significant attention, particularly amid growing concerns over student visa restrictions and immigration policies in the US. As investigations continue, authorities in both India and the US are closely monitoring developments related to fraudulent visa applications and immigration enforcement actions.
