PHAGWARA: In a troubling revelation that underscores the rising menace of fraudulent immigration practices in Punjab, two major visa scams have come to light, involving a combined financial loss of over ₹37 lakh. Victims from Jalandhar and Kapurthala districts were allegedly duped by unscrupulous agents who exploited their aspirations of securing better futures abroad for their children.
In the first case, Sohan Lal, a resident of Bhallowal village near Noormahal, lodged a formal complaint against two individuals — of Pandori village (Hoshiarpur district), and Mandeep Singh, who operates from Shop No. 676, Sector 70, SAS Nagar (Mohali). The duo, allegedly operating under the name Providers Overseas Consultants based in Mohali, promised to arrange a UK work visa for Lal’s son, Mulk Raj.
According to Lal’s statement, the accused took ₹26.88 lakh under the pretext of facilitating visa processing and travel arrangements. Despite receiving the entire payment, the accused failed to deliver any valid documentation and soon became untraceable. Acting on the complaint, police registered a case under Sections 420 (cheating) and 406 (criminal breach of trust) of the Indian Penal Code, alongside relevant provisions of the Punjab Travel Professionals Regulation Act. Authorities have launched a full-scale investigation to trace the culprits and recover the embezzled amount.
In a similar incident, a woman from Mudowal village in Kapurthala district reported being swindled out of ₹10.75 lakh. Kulvinder Kaur, mother of Simranjit Singh, filed her complaint under UID 348904, stating that Harpinder Singh and Kulvinder Kaur (wife of Joginder Singh), residents of Ward No. 12, Bal Mishra Mohalla near the Banga Bus Stand in Nawanshahr district, misled her with false promises of securing a UK visa for her son. The complaint, originally submitted on May 13, 2024, led to the registration of an FIR following an official inquiry (Report No. 314-DRK dated June 18, 2025) conducted by Sub-Inspector Bhupinder Singh.
As with the Phagwara case, the accused in Kapurthala neither arranged the promised travel documentation nor returned the funds, prompting police to register charges under Sections 420 and 406 of the IPC. The matter remains under active investigation.
“These are serious cases of financial and emotional exploitation, ” said a senior police official. “Families invest their life savings in hopes of a better future for their children. We are committed to ensuring justice and taking strict action against those involved.”