Man who helped 80 Indians with fake passports, visas denied bail by Mumbai court
human trafficking
and document fabrication ring. The accused, Rajesh Panchal, is alleged to have supplied fraudulent passports and visas to approximately 80 Indian citizens, sending them to countries in Europe, America, and the Gulf.
The judge stated that effective interrogation of the accused was "of tremendous advantage in disintering many pieces of useful information and also materials which would have been concealed."
The case came to light on Feb 28, when officers from the Foreigner Regional Registration Office (FRRO), Bureau of Immigration, arrested co-accused Roshan Dudwadkar at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport.
Dudwadkar's arrest followed a tip-off that he was involved in human trafficking.
During interrogation, Dudwadkar reportedly revealed he was Panchal's associate and that he was preparing the fabricated travel documents. The prosecution submitted that Panchal, the mastermind, was charging between Rs 30 lakh to 50 lakh per person.
You Can Also Check:
Mumbai AQI
|
Weather in Mumbai
|
Bank Holidays in Mumbai
|
Public Holidays in Mumbai
|
Gold Rates Today in Mumbai
|
Silver Rates Today in Mumbai
The accused, however, submitted that he is innocent, stating he was "falsely implicated in this case based on the statement made by the co-accused."
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Is it better to shower in the morning or at night? Here's what a microbiologist says
CNA
Read More
Undo
His lawyer argued that since Dudwadkar and other co-accused had already been granted bail, he should be as well. He also stated he is a law-abiding, tax-paying citizen who is ready to cooperate with the ongoing investigations.
The prosecution and the investigating officer strongly opposed the bail plea. They told the court that the accused had not fully cooperated with investigators and that his custodial interrogation was essential to uncover further details of the criminal enterprise, especially regarding the fabricated govt documents.
This is not the first time the accused has sought anticipatory bail. A previous application was denied on May 3, on the grounds that custodial interrogation was necessary. He visited the police station on May 31 and June 2, 2025, but investigators say he has not been cooperative.
Stay updated with the latest local news from your
city
on
Times of India
(TOI). Check upcoming
bank holidays
,
public holidays
, and current
gold rates
and
silver prices
in your area.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
40 minutes ago
- Time of India
How gang that ran a fake police bureau cheated NRIs with ‘CBI supervision account'
Noida: The accused, who were arrested for running a fake international police bureau in Noida, posed as representatives of international and Indian investigative agencies to dupe non-resident Indians (NRIs) and overseas citizens of India (OCI) cardholders, police have found. Central Noida deputy commissioner of police Shakti Mohan Avasthy revealed the accused routinely conducted video calls on Microsoft Teams, impersonating officials from agencies such as CBI, Enforcement Directorate, Crime Branch and even Supreme Court. During these calls, they displayed forged documents carrying official-looking seals to convince their targets. You Can Also Check: Noida AQI | Weather in Noida | Bank Holidays in Noida | Public Holidays in Noida | Gold Rates Today in Noida | Silver Rates Today in Noida Three members of 'International Police & Crime Investigation Bureau', who were arrested earlier this month, were taken into police custody on Monday, leading to major revelations. According to officials, the gang lured victims by creating fear of legal action in India. They claimed unless the victims "cooperated" in ongoing investigations, they would neither be allowed to travel to India nor receive OCI cards in the future. The gang even issued acknowledgement letters bearing fake seals of the CBI's financial wing and Reserve Bank of India. Avasthy said, "When victims pleaded their innocence, they were told they must obtain a police clearance certificate (PCC) from the govt of India — a service the gang claimed to facilitate. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Use an AI Writing Tool That Actually Understands Your Voice Grammarly Install Now Undo Further, they were persuaded to deposit money in a so-called 'CBI Supervision Account' under the pretext that their funds would be tracked as part of an international money-laundering probe and later refunded." Avasthy said their investigation also found that funds extorted from victims were first transferred to international accounts and then routed back to India through the hawala network. "The gang relied heavily on spoofing technology, forged CBI-RBI letterheads, fake Supreme Court orders and fabricated summons to create pressure. In one instance, the accused used a front organisation called the National Bureau of Social Investigation and Social Justice to send bogus summons and notices resembling legitimate legal documents, further intimidating their targets," he said. Bibhas Chandra Adhikari, his son Arghya and four others were arrested earlier this month from a house in Sector 70 where they ran the sham called 'International Police & Crime Investigation Bureau'. This wasn't, however, their only bogus operation. They also floated a National Bureau of Social Investigation and Social Justice as well as a website for the fake police establishment that mimicked Interpol. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Arrested drug kingpin reveals cross-border link
Ludhiana: City police have unearthed a jail connection facilitating the drug business and weapon supply of notorious criminal, Mukul Mattu, a resident of Mohalla Fatehgarh, from whom about 1kg heroin, a 9mm Glock pistol, and two country-made pistols, along with 21 live cartridges were seized. Investigation revealed that Mattu procured both the heroin and Glock pistol from Ashu, who is currently lodged in Faridkot jail. One of the country-made pistols recovered from him was brought through a Ludhiana jail inmate, Vikramjit Singh. According to Mattu, Ashu smuggled the heroin and pistol from Pakistan. City police have nominated both Ashu and Vikramjit in the case and will bring them on production warrant for questioning soon. Mukul Mattu was wanted by the police for threatening Dharampura resident Deepak for giving information on drug peddlers at the Safe Punjab helpline. The said drug peddlers contacted Mattu, who is involved in drug smuggling himself. On August 12, Mattu and his aides turned up outside Deepak's house and brandished a gun to threaten him and his family. Police lodged an FIR in the case and arrested Mattu, who is facing about eight FIRs. Ludhiana crime branch in-charge, inspector Beant Juneja said, "During interrogation, Mukul revealed that in 2022-23, he was lodged in Ludhiana Central Jail, where Ashu was also lodged. He said that Ashu, who he became friends with, has links with cross-border smugglers. It was Ashu who delivered the 1kg heroin and 9mm Glock pistol with 7 cartridges, which police recovered, to him. Ashu is currently lodged in Faridkot Jail. He has been nominated in the FIR and will be brought on a production warrant for questioning." The official added that the Glock pistol recovered from Mukul is made in Austria. "Mukul confessed that he also brought the two .30 bore pistols recovered from him through a Ludhiana jail inmate named Vikramjit Singh," inspector Juneja added. Another senior official shared, "During interrogation, Mukul claimed that Faridkot jail inmate Ashu has links with cross-border smugglers. He said that Pakistan-based smugglers gifted a Glock pistol to Ashu for purchase of 1kg heroin. Mukul paid Ashu Rs 2.7 lakh for the Glock pistol. He paid about Rs 15 lakh for 1kg of heroin. Ashu sent his aide to Ludhiana to deliver the consignment about one and a half months ago. Police will verify Mukul's claims once Ashu comes on production warrant. " The criminal nexus Seizure details --1kg heroin, a 9mm Glock pistol (made in Austria), 2 country-made pistols, and 21 live cartridges recovered from Mukul Mattu Jail connection --Ashu, lodged in Faridkot Jail, allegedly smuggled the heroin and Glock pistol from Pakistan --Vikramjit Singh, an inmate in Ludhiana Jail, helped supply one of the country-made pistols Cross-border smuggling --Mukul claimed Ashu has links with Pakistan-based smugglers --The Glock pistol was allegedly gifted by Pakistani smugglers to Ashu for heroin trade Financial transactions --Mukul paid Rs 2.7 lakh for the Glock pistol and Rs 15 lakh for 1kg heroin Threat Case Mukul threatened Deepak, a resident of Dharampura, for reporting drug peddlers via the Safe Punjab helpline. MSID:: 123387969 413 | Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Kerala HC grants bail to four PFI men in 2022 murder case
Kochi: HC, on Tuesday, granted bail to four accused – Muhammed Bilal, Riyasudheen, K P Ansar and K V Saheer – in RSS leader Sreenivasan's murder case. They are members of the banned outfit Popular Front of India (PFI). Sreenivasan was murdered at Melamuri Junction in Palakkad on April 16, 2022, allegedly by PFI men. A bench comprising Justices V Raja Vijayaraghavan and K V Jayakumar passed the order by allowing the petitions filed by the accused challenging the NIA special court, Ernakulam, which had dismissed their bail applications. The bench directed that each accused be released on bail upon executing a bond of Rs 1 lakh with two solvent sureties for the like sum to the satisfaction of the special court. HC also imposed conditions, including that the petitioners shall not leave the revenue district of Ernakulam without prior permission of the special court; they shall surrender their passports before the court immediately; they must provide their full and updated residential address to the investigating officer (IO); they shall use only one mobile number during the bail period and communicate it to the IO and they shall report before the SHO of the police station having jurisdiction over their place of residence once every fortnight. In 2022, Centre had declared PFI and its affiliates/frontal outfits as an 'unlawful association' under the provisions of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. It was revealed that PFI and its members were allegedly responsible for several violent incidents and murders in Kerala, creating a sense of terror in the minds of the people. Further, it was alleged that PFI, its office-bearers and its members were indulging in unlawful activities with the intent to foment disaffection against the Indian State by provoking individuals—particularly innocent members of Muslim community—to defy govt and institutions established by law. Accordingly, Centre directed NIA to investigate the activities of PFI, including Sreenivasan's murder. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
