French embassy visa fraud case: Under India's 1st silver notice from Interpol, CBI to trace assets abroad
In January this year, ThePrint reported that the Interpol published its first-ever silver notice—on Italy's request—to identify, trace, recover and confiscate the proceeds of crime including criminal assets, spread across different countries of any fugitive or accused in cases of fraud and money laundering.
The agency's International Operations Division was successful in getting India's first silver notice published in this case in coordination with the International Police Cooperation Unit of the CBI.
New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has got India's first 'silver notice' issued by Interpol, which will enable the probe agency to trace proceeds of crime related to the French embassy visa 'fraud' case, allegedly parked in different countries.
This was initiated to launch a crackdown on transnational organised crime. As part of the pilot project, each Interpol member-nation can request up to nine such notices.
Through the silver notice, agencies in India can collect information on assets of fugitives and key accused even if the assets are parked in other countries.
Once a request is sent through the CBI—which is the Interpol's nodal agency in India—the Interpol forwards the request to countries where the agency suspects the accused has assets in, and seeks further information. Additional assistance is also provided for confiscation and seizures.
Also Read: No new Red Corner Notice sought by India for Pannun since Interpol rejected 2nd request 2 yrs ago
CBI charge sheets 8 in case
Meanwhile, the CBI said Wednesday it has filed a charge sheet in the French embassy visa fraud case against eight persons including a local law officer in the visa department of the embassy. His father, brother and wife have also been named in the charge sheet alongside two visa agents and two other suspected middlemen.
During the investigation, the CBI found that between January 2021 and May 2022, the law officer in the visa department allegedly targeted applicants from Punjab who were seeking Schengen visas. Through a network of visa agents, the accused allegedly lured the applicants into paying huge amounts of money to obtain Schengen visas.
Chargesheet filed against 8 accused in French Embassy Visa Fraud case
CBI gets India's First Ever Silver Notice published by Interpol to Trace Assets Abroad pic.twitter.com/Xn3YvYfU54
— Central Bureau of Investigation (India) (@CBIHeadquarters) June 11, 2025
'A network of visa agents, mostly based in Punjab received money ranging from Rs 13 lakh to Rs 45 lakh from each visa applicant and in lieu of these large sums of money, visa applications were processed by the accused and on issuance of Schengen visas and the accused destroyed the visa documents and files,' the CBI said in a statement.
The CBI's probe found huge amounts of cash and multiple documents relating to properties worth crores of rupees acquired in India and abroad including in various locations in Punjab and Delhi.
'Two visa agents were the key co-conspirators who funneled the money through various bank accounts, which ultimately reached the accused Law Officer and his family members through the two accused middlemen,' the CBI said.
The chargesheeted accused include law officer Shubham Shokeen, his brother Abhishek Shokeen, father Samunder Singh, wife Aarti Choudhary, visa agents Balwinder Singh Bartia and Pritpal Singh, and suspected middlemen Jashandeep Singh Sidhu and Bhawan Shokeen.
(Edited by Ajeet Tiwari)
Also Read: Interpol launches 'Silver Notice' to track criminal assets worldwide. India played key role in move
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