Latest news with #)Airport
Hans India
6 days ago
- Hans India
US visa scam: Student arrested for forging documents
Hyderabad: A 28-year-old student from Telangana's Nalgonda district has been arrested in Hyderabad following his deportation from the United States for allegedly using forged documents to secure his visa, police confirmed on Wednesday. Authorities have also apprehended the managing director of an overseas education consultancy firm, arrested on June 2, accused of supplying the fraudulent degree certificates to the student. The student, who was pursuing a master's degree at Webster University in Missouri, was initially taken into custody on June 1. Both individuals have been charged with forgery and cheating. The student's deportation from Dallas in the US occurred in the last week of May. He was returning from India when US immigration officers discovered his SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) status was inactive. Upon his arrival at Rajiv Gandhi International (RGI) Airport in Shamshabad on June 1, local immigration authorities conducted an inquiry. During this, he reportedly confessed to having obtained a US visa in September 2023 using "fake" Computer Science certificates. Following this confession, local immigration authorities filed a complaint at the RGI Airport police station, leading to the student's arrest and the recording of his statement. The student informed police that he had acquired the fraudulent documents from the MD of the education consultancy firm. A subsequent search at the firm's office led to the seizure of various documents, including certificates from different universities, and Rs 10 lakh in cash from the MD, who was then arrested. "The student had studied for one year in the US and came to India and stayed for five months. When he returned to the US, immigration officers at the Dallas airport found his student status inactive on the SEVIS and deported him," Assistant Commissioner of Police (Shamshabad Division) V Sreekanth Goud said PTI. During interrogation, the MD of the consultancy firm disclosed that over the past five years, he had facilitated the admission of 15 students abroad by providing them with "fake" degree certificates. Further investigation into the racket is ongoing.
News18
6 days ago
- General
- News18
Mumbai Airport's Customs Team Arrests 3, Seizes 8.6Kg Hydroponic Weed Worth Over Rs 8 Crore
Last Updated: Hydroponic weed is an advanced form of cannabis grown in controlled environments using nutrient-rich water instead of soil In a major crackdown on drug trafficking, the customs department at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International (CSMI) Airport, Mumbai, seized approximately 8.6 kilograms of high-grade hydroponic weed, also known as hydroponic marijuana, valued at Rs 8.6 crore in the illicit market. The operation, carried out on June 2 and 3, led to the arrest of three Indian nationals who had arrived from Bangkok. The action was taken by officers of Mumbai Customs Zone III who were working on specific intelligence inputs regarding drug smuggling through air routes. Two passengers landed on June 3 by Thai flight SL218, while the third arrived earlier by flight VZ760, all from Bangkok. Acting on suspicion, customs officials intercepted the individuals shortly after they landed at the airport. Upon preliminary questioning, all three passengers displayed signs of nervousness and discomfort, raising red flags for the team. A thorough examination of their baggage led to the discovery of carefully concealed hydroponic weed—an advanced form of cannabis grown in controlled environments using nutrient-rich water instead of soil. This type of marijuana is known for its potency and high street value. The entire consignment, weighing 8.6 kg in total, has been seized under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. All three individuals have been arrested and further investigation is currently underway to determine the broader network behind this smuggling attempt. The seizure underscores the growing trend of synthetic and high-potency drug smuggling through air routes, especially from Southeast Asian hubs like Bangkok. The successful operation not only prevented a large quantity of narcotics from reaching the streets but also highlights the increasing use of airports like Mumbai for smuggling hydroponic marijuana. As international drug syndicates adapt with newer smuggling techniques, Indian enforcement agencies are stepping up efforts with sharper intelligence and advanced surveillance tools. First Published: June 04, 2025, 10:35 IST
Time of India
28-05-2025
- Time of India
Romanian national held at Ahmedabad airport for visa fraud
AHMEDABAD: A Romanian national, 42, was held at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International (SVPI) Airport on Tuesday for allegedly presenting forged visa and immigration documents as he overstayed in the country. A visa agent, Manoj Joshi from Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh , was also booked in the case as he provided a forged visa to the Romanian national to stay in India. Hansraj Rathi, an immigration officer on duty at Terminal-2, reported that on Tuesday, around 9:00 PM, a passenger arrived at the immigration counter for a flight to Abu Dhabi, scheduled to depart at 10:40 PM. The passenger, identified as Dragomir Mihail Gadriel from Romania, presented a Romanian passport and an Indian visa to the immigration counter. During verification, the officer found discrepancies. The visa issued was for 90 days, but the submitted document reflected a 180-day stay. Further, the exit permit provided by the passenger showed an expiry date of 29 May 2025, while the official e-FRRO permit from New Delhi showed the correct date as 19 May 2025. On questioning, Gadriel admitted that both the altered visa and the forged exit permit were arranged through Joshi. Following this, immigration officials submitted a formal written complaint. Airport police registered a case of forgery, cheating, and use of false documents under the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita. Cops also seized articles, including the passport, boarding passes, and visa copies from Gadriel, and a written statement was taken from him. Special Operations Group (SOG) began an investigation to trace the agent and identify any possible links to other similar incidents. Cops are yet to know what Gadriel had done in country apart from touring and why he overstayed in the country.
Time of India
08-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
IGIA increases pickup fee for app-based cabs
New Delhi: Passengers using app-based cab aggregator services from Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport will have to shell out more as Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) has increased the pick-up charges by around 40%, according to new charges apply to Ola and Uber rides originating from all three terminals of the airport. The revised collection fee is Rs 245 plus 18% GST — totalling Rs 289. Earlier, the fee was Rs 173, excluding and Uber account for four lakh monthly trips from Delhi airport terminals, and comprise a major chunk of the total airport commercial trips in the national capital."Airport pick-up fee in Delhi is already among the highest in India and comes to around 25% of the total average fare paid by the rider," a source said, adding, "With the new increase, the rider will pay almost 40% as pick-up fee. The steep increase does not correspond to any new facilities for riders."The pick-up fee is reviewed every year. With the new increase, the pick-up will be among the costliest in the country, the source fare paid by the rider is a combination of airport pick-up fee, plus toll tax and driver earnings, along with commission. With the increased airport fee, riders will pay more toll tax, along with the airport pick-up fee, itself will be around 50% of the total fare on average, and this will neither go to the driver nor the aggregator, but to the was no immediate response from the development, an official spokesperson from Uber said that for all airport trips taken on the cab aggregator, a pick-up fee is charged as part of our commercial agreements with airports."This fee is passed on to the airport. Uber does not retain these charges. As part of the recent contract renewal with Delhi airport, the pick-up fee for Uber trips from the airport was revised by the airport operator," he official added, "We want to clarify that there was no increase in fares by Uber itself. The updated fare reflects only the revised airport pick-up fee charged by the airport operator."
Time of India
07-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
15 lakh people across nation join hands to test and enforce safety measures
Security personnel during a mega civil defence mock drill 'Operation Abhyaas', at Terminal 3 of the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport, in New Delhi. (Pic credit: PTI) NEW DELHI: The civil defence drill on Wednesday - held as per directions of the office of DG, Fire Services, Civil Defence and Home Guards, which comes under the home ministry - received an overwhelming response, with its scope expanding from the earmarked 244 civil defence (CD) districts/towns to nearly 350 districts, and nearly 15 lakh stakeholders including civil administration staff, volunteers, auxiliary forces, NDRF and state/UT police, besides the general public, coming together to test and enforce safety measures like blackouts, air-raid sirens and evacuation amid a simulated warlike setting.A home ministry source said the drill successfully saw the enforcement of blackouts, with people voluntarily putting their lights out or 'blackening' their windows with cloth or paper upon activation of the sirens. "Reports from Bihar said people stopped their cars on NH-31 and switched off headlights to enforce the blackout," an officer said. "There was total blackout in all areas where the drill was undertaken," the officer added, citing videos received from across the original plan was to conduct the civil defence drill in 244 CD districts. However, the coverage was voluntarily expanded by states, with UP, for one, conducting the drill across all its 85 districts. "What was most heartening is the public enthusiasm to join in the drill. In fact, many members of the public have offered to become civil defence volunteers," an officer said and added that state/UT chief secretaries were asked to hire were some gaps that were identified in the civil defence set-up in certain parts; for instance, the air siren could not be sounded in many places. "This may be as it has been long since the 1971 war, when the sirens were last used. Also, the districts and cities have expanded," said an officer, adding that these districts will be mapped and emergency provisions invoked for purchasing the necessary equipment."We have identified the gaps in the civil defence set-up, thanks to Wednesday's drills," said the officer. For instance, a source said, at Delhi airport, which has both civilian and military operations, the coordination could have been better with more participation of senior people. This is crucial as military targets are seen as more prone to being targeted in a hostile aerial action. This will be corrected as part of follow-up action, it was regards the civil defence exercise on the western border, particularly as it came hours after Indian forces hit terror targets in PoK and Pakistan, sources said the situation had anyway changed to a real emergency scenario there, particularly with heavy shelling in some border areas.
