The accused has been identified as Usman Shaikh, 64, who was arrested in 2006 by the Nalasopara police for making fake passports
Usman Shaikh. Pic/Hanif Patel
The Palghar police have arrested a senior citizen allegedly involved in making fake visas at his flat in Nalasopara West. The accused has been identified as Usman Shaikh, 64, who was arrested in 2006 by the Nalasopara police for making fake passports.
ADVERTISEMENT
Additional Superintendent of Police, Vasai division, Vijaykant Sagar, said, "We have seized a high-end scanning machine, printer, toner and ink pot from his possession. Besides this, we have also seized the paper roll he used for making the fake visas. There are some pieces of papers on which Republic of China and United Arab Emirates have been written."
When asked about Shaikh's modus operandi and if he was making fake visas at the behest of someone, Sagar said, "At present, our investigation is at the nascent stage. We are probing if the accused approached victims or vice-versa."
Shaikh could be a member of a larger gang, said an officer. At present the investigators are decoding the language on the paper found in his flat. "The agencies and embassies concerned have been alerted," said an officer privy to the investigation.
An officer attached to Nalasopara police station said, "Shaikh's brother, who is now deceased, had been arrested by the Gujarat police for making fake visas." Shaikh's family lives in Thane and his children often visit him in Nalasopara, said the police. Shaikh has been arrested under various sections of the Indian Penal Code.
Also Read: Mumbai: Businessman arrested by Juhu police for pranking them with fake terror information
Catch up on all the latest Mumbai news, crime news, current affairs, and also a complete guide on Mumbai from food to things to do and events across the city here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates