CBI busts fake passport racket after raids in Bengal & Sikkim; 2 held

The probe agency made the arrests after searches at around 50 locations including Kolkata, Darjeeling, Siligiri, Alipurduar and Gangtok.

The CBI on Saturday busted a fake passport racket involving officials and middlemen in West Bengal and Sikkim, and arrested two persons, including an official of Passport Laghu Seva Kendra in Gangtok.

The probe agency made the arrests after searches at around 50 locations including Kolkata, Darjeeling, Siligiri, Alipurduar and Gangtok.

The probe began with the arrest of Gautam Kumar Saha, posted as Senior Superintendent at Passport Seva Laghu Kendra, Gangtok, and Dipu Chetri, middlemen.

The two were nabbed at a Siliguri hotel while Chetri was allegedly paying a bribe of Rs 1.9 lakh to Saha for the issuance of a passport.

“Both the accused were apprehended. During a search, an amount of Rs 3.08 lakh(approx) was also recovered from the possession of the said public servant,” official said.

The arrested accused will be produced before the Competent Court.

Earlier, officials filed a case against 24 individuals.

The FIR names 24 individuals, including 16 officials, who were allegedly issuing passports on the basis of forged documents to ineligible persons, including non-residents, in return for bribes, officials added.

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