Ahmedabad: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Sunday stated that it carried out search operations on 19.01.2024 and 20.01.2024 at 22 locations in Ahmedabad, Delhi, Surat, and Mehsana linked to the key conspirators Bobby @ Bharatbhai Patel, Charanjit Singh and others under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002 in the case of illegal foreign immigration.

ED initiated the investigation based on 02 FIRs registered by Gujarat Police under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and Passports Act for involvement in sending Indian Citizens abroad illegally since 2015.

ED investigation revealed that the accused persons were taking huge consideration for sending Indian Citizens abroad illegally based on bogus or fabricated documents for getting visa of different countries with duplicate or bogus passports used as genuine by impersonating the passengers wrongly. For this purpose, they used to collect Rs. 60 to 75 Lakh from one passenger, Rs. 1 to 1.25 Crore from a couple (husband & wife) and Rs. 1.25 to 1.75 Crore if children are also accompanied, from, the passengers desirous of going abroad.

During the search operations, cash amounting to Rs. 1.5 Crore approx. in INR and foreign currencies equivalent to Rs. 21 lacs have been seized. Further, various other incriminating evidences in the form of digital as well as documentary have been recovered and seized. Bobby Patel was also involved in the 2022 Dingucha case, where a family of 04 had frozen to death while attempting to illegally enter into United States from Canada.

Further investigation is under progress. DeshGujarat