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Time of India

Man who helped 80 Indians with fake passports, visas denied bail by Mumbai court

Mumbai: Observing that there is prima facie material showing direct involvement of the accused in the offence, a sessions court rejected the anticipatory bail plea of a man accused of being the mastermind behind an extensive 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.