Spike in immigration frauds in Chandigarh, 79 cases registered in six months
In an alarming revelation, the Chandigarh Police have reported a sharp rise in immigration-related frauds, with 79 cases registered between January and June this year. As per official data, accused have been named in all cases, with arrests made in 28 cases.
Police records reveal that Sector 17 has emerged as the immigration fraud “epicentre”, accounting for 47 of the 79 FIRs registered in the city during the abovementioned period.
The police have also identified five immigration consultancies against which the maximum number of complaints have been filed. These include World Walk Immigration and Wish Immigration Consultant, both located in Sector 17, followed by Mission Abroad Consultant in Sector 22, BB Council in Sector 17, and an agency operating from Piccadilly Square, Sector 34.
Authorities have assured that a stringent action is being taken against fraudulent agents, who lure unsuspecting individuals with false promises of overseas employment and study opportunities.
In 2024 alone, 194 cases were registered against errant immigration firms, prompting a series of special drives to inspect the functioning of consultancies across the city.
Several unlicenced immigration firms were found duping visa aspirants on the promise of overseas jobs, student admission and work permits—primarily for Canada, UK, Australia and Gulf nations. The fraud came to light through sustained investigations and a city-wide enforcement drive launched in mid-June, which included arrests and sealing of offices violating court or District Magistrate’s orders.
However, after securing bail, habitual offenders go back to their old ways in a new name and office. The rising number of cases has spurred discussions within the administration, with proposals being mulled to introduce a dedicated law specifically aimed at curbing immigration frauds in Chandigarh.
Residents are advised to check for registration authorised by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MEA) and avoid cash transactions when dealing with visa agents. The police urge victims to come forward, promising swift legal action.
Crackdown, arrests in June
On June 11, a special anti-illegal immigration operation led to the arrest of agents running offices in Sectors 8 and 9 without valid registration. Subsequent raids between June 13 and 20 exposed firms that had resumed operations despite being previously sealed.
Among those arrested included agents from Planet Guide Overseas (Sector 22), World Walk Immigration (Sector 17) and V Town International (Sector 34), besides others. The police found out that some companies were changing names or using different floors in the same building to evade detection.
On June 15, four agents were arrested from Sectors 17 and 36 — Gagandeep Singh, Rahul Arora, Ankush Mahajan and Karan Sharma — for violating the DM orders and operating without valid licences.
Chandigarh