Fake Passport Racket: 29 Accused On The Run, STF Announces ₹20,000 Reward For Information

The Special Task Force (STF) in Bhopal is investigating a fake passport racket involving Bangladeshi nationals. So far, 29 accused have gone into hiding, leading the STF to announce a reward of ₹20,000 for information leading to their capture. The investigation began when fake passports were discovered in Bhopal, Dabra, Betul, Chhindwara, and Pandhurna.

The STF has already arrested six suspects and is questioning them to uncover the larger network. Interrogations of mastermind Riyal Chaudhary and other arrested suspects have provided new leads. The STF had originally identified 70 passports for detailed examination and has since validated two of them; the rest will be scrutinized further.

The two validated passports were suspiciously linked to a Buddhist monastery, as applicants listed the monastery's address instead of their real residences. The STF suspects these individuals were residing in a nearby slum. Five people have been identified who used fake passports to travel abroad and have since returned to India.

The STF is also searching several states for clues. The AIG of the STF, Rajesh Bhadoria, revealed that a reward of ₹20,000 had initially been offered for 19 fugitives, now expanded to all 29. The investigation also includes seeking information from the Union Ministry of External Affairs and the passport cell, as a former passport officer under scrutiny may have played a suspicious role in the case.