Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Sep 26: A man and woman, who were trying to go abroad using fake passports, were arrested by the police from the international airport here on Thursday September 25.

The arrested have been identified as Mohit Bhai Patel (27), son of Babu Bhai Patel from Ahmedabad and Meena (34), wife of Narendra Bhai Patel from Meshna taluk, Gujarat. Both were trying to fly to Canada via Doha-Bahrain by Air India Express flight, by replacing the photographs affixed on the passports issued to Shali Srikant Nago and Shali Neelima Srikant from Vishnunagar, Dombivili, Mumbai.

During interrogation, they informed that a person named Ketan defrauded them by making them believe, that they would not face any problem, if they used these fake passports for the travel.

Ketan from Mumbai had visited the garment shop owned by Mohit three months ago, on the pretext of buying clothes. While talking to Mohit, he enticed him by offering to arrange for going abroad, if he was prepared to pay Rs 20 lac for the favour. Mohit paid the money. After a few days, Ketan invited Mohit to come to Royal hotel in Mumbai. Mohit found that a lady named Meena was with Ketan. All the three arrived in Mangalore by a King Fisher flight on Wednesday September 24.

After staying at a hotel here for the day, Ketan handed over passport, visa and other documents to the two, and dropped them off at the airport here. Before leaving, he had asked them to claim that they were husband and wife. The immigration officials grew suspicious over the movements of the two and found out about the fake passports.

The policemen have taken up investigation. They will now be trying to trace Ketan, for unearthing the possible fake passports racket.