06-05-2025
Mumbai: CBI arrests junior assistant, pvt agent for issuing passports after accepting bribe
THE CENTRAL Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Monday arrested a junior passport assistant and a passport agent in connection with alleged corruption to the tune of Rs 6 lakh in issuing passports.
The CBI also alleged that they have found that two passports of unknown applicants were issued based on forged documents, stating that this is a 'grave national security concern'.
Junior Passport Assistant Aakash Rathee, posted at the Passport Seva Kendra in Malad, was produced before a special court on Tuesday in Mumbai. The central agency sought Rathee's custody for questioning alleging that it is a larger conspiracy in which the accused persons have facilitated passports based on forged documents.
The CBI also arrested private passport agent Sanjeev Rahi, who is alleged to have colluded with the passport officials for issuance of passports.
Special Public Prosecutor Sandeep Singh told the court that a joint surprise check was conducted by the CBI with the officers of the Passport Seva Division at Passport Seva Kendra in Malad in June, 2024.
It claimed that based on its check, a complaint was filed by its official against Rathee, and two other junior passport assistants and five agents.
The CBI alleged that the assistants were in regular contact with the agents and that Rathee was 'in the habit of accepting undue advantage from different private persons/agents'.
The CBI claimed that various transactions of different amounts, totalling Rs 6 lakh, were received in a bank account linked to Rathee, from the agents.
The CBI also alleged that its probe had found chats between the assistants, where there were discussions on money and 'rates'.
Further, the CBI alleged that one applicant had submitted a false address at the passport office and was issued a passport in tatkal for quicker service.
In the case of another applicant too, the documents submitted were found to be fake, despite which the passport was issued. The CBI said that these two applicants are not traceable currently, with suspicion that one of them has left the country already using the passport issued.
The CBI sought an opportunity for a thorough probe by questioning Rathee and Rahi in custody. Rathee's lawyers Rajendra Rathod and Sohail Ahmed, opposed the CBI plea stating that he is ready to cooperate with the probe and his custody is not required.
Special Judge S H Gwalani said that it is necessary to delve into the role and complicity of other suspects and the arrested accused are required to be confronted and sent the two to CBI's custody till May 9.
