Foreign Dreams Turn Into Nightmares, Agents Cheated 23 Youths of Anand

Ahmedabad: Two fraudulent visa agents from Sarsa village in Anand district allegedly cheated 23 youths of Rs 2.41 crore by promising them work and visitor visas for New Zealand, Australia, and the US. The accused, Krunal Patel and Pritesh Patel, shared fake visas and nomination letters with the victims through WhatsApp. The scam came to light when the documents were found to be fake.

One of the victims, Tejasbhai Patel, 33, lives in Ghatlodiya, Ahmedabad. He is a mechanical engineer and works as a site supervisor in Sabarmati. In June 2023, after expressing interest in settling abroad, a friend introduced him to the agents. Tejasbhai and his wife visited the agents in Sarsa. They were promised a work visa for Rs 20 lakh. The agents also said they could arrange visas for his friends and relatives within three months. The accused promised not just work permits but also rental agreements and medical clearances. Tejasbhai paid the amount and referred 22 others. In total, the agents received Rs 2.41 crore.

Later, when the visas and nomination letters were checked, they were found to be fake. When Tejasbhai tried to contact the agents, they gave excuses and eventually shut their office. He first filed a complaint at Sarsa Police Station. The agents gave blank cheques, but those bounced.

After they switched off their phones and went missing, a case was filed with the CID Crime branch in Gandhinagar. Police have started an investigation. The accused have been booked under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code for cheating, forgery and criminal breach of trust. “This is a highly organised fraud with a network possibly stretching internationally,” a senior CID officer said.