Passport scam grows bigger as police arrest another suspect

Man accused of helping 'passport agent' procure forged documents becomes sixth person caught by police in case involving cops, underworld and glamour world

Man accused of helping 'passport agent' procure forged documents becomes sixth person caught by police in case involving cops, underworld and glamour world

A Sixth person's arrest in the passport scam involving use of forged documents suggests there is more to the case than meets the eye. The latest person to be arrested in the case registered at the Bundgarden police station was said to have worked for a passport agent. The police said he helped the agent get forged documents for his clients.

Fake address proofs
The police now suspect 98 instances in which passports were issued on submission of fake address proofs.After the earlier arrest of five people, including a model and a professional dancer, the new arrest has thrown light on how fake documents were procured by the passport agent. According to the police, Abhay Krishna Lokhande (24), the latest person to be arrested in the case, worked for passport agent Inayatali Hariyani and obtained forged documents for Hariyani's clients from a contact of his. The police said Lokhande got the documents forged from a person called Rajnish Gujar.

Confession of role in forgery
The police said Lokhande had confessed to having obtained forged address proofs and PAN cards for at least 40 people from Gujar. The police are yet to arrest Gujar.Lokhande was produced in court and remanded in police custody till June 8.

Model, dancer out on bail
While model Jiya Ashok Chopra (22) and professional dancer Vedika Tilak Kumar Shivkumar (22) have been released on bail, Mumbai-based passport agent Arvind Rajendra Bhat (32), Hariyani and suspended police constable Digambar Laxman Ghorpade have been remanded in magisterial custody. Ghorpade and Hariyani were arrested for helping Sajid Batliwala (45), a Dawood Ibrahim aide, get a passport with a fake name and address.

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