ED Ahmedabad carries out searches at 8 locations in Dingucha case

Ahmedabad: The Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Ahmedabad Zonal Office, has conducted search operations on 10.12.2024 and 19.12.2024 under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, at 8 locations in Mumbai, Nagpur, Gandhinagar, and Vadodara as part of the ongoing probe in the case of Bhavesh Ashokbhai Patel and others (Dingucha case) for hatching a well-planned conspiracy to send the victims/persons to the USA through Canada via illegal channels, thereby committing the offence of human trafficking, the agency announced on Tuesday.

During the course of search operations, bank accounts to the tune of Rs 19 lakh (approx.) were frozen, and various other incriminating documents & digital devices have been seized. Further, 02 vehicles were also seized.

ED initiated an investigation on the basis of an FIR registered by DCB, Crime Branch, Ahmedabad City, Gujarat, against Bhavesh Ashokbhai Patel and others after a family of 04 Indian nationals of Dingucha village, Gujarat, was found dead on the Canada-US border on 19.01.2022. All the accused, in conspiracy with each other, lured the innocent Indian nationals by charging them huge amounts of Rs. 55 to 60 lakh per person for causing them to illegally enter the USA through Canada.

ED investigation revealed that for sending the Indian national(s) to the USA illegally, the accused arranged admission of the individuals in colleges/universities based in Canada and thereby applied for students’ visas for Canada. Once the individuals/students reached Canada, instead of joining the college, they illegally crossed the US-Canada border and never joined college(s) in Canada. In view of it, the fee received by colleges based in Canada was remitted back to the individuals’ accounts. It is gathered that 02 entities based in Mumbai and Nagpur have entered into an agreement for the admission of students in universities based in foreign countries on a commission basis with an entity that was contacted by a desirous student for immigrating to the USA illegally.

It is revealed during searches conducted that around 25,000 students are being referred by one entity and more than 10,000 students by another to various colleges based outside India every year. Further, it is gathered that there are around 1700 agents/partners based in Gujarat and around 3500 agents/partners of other entities all over India, and out of which around 800 are active. It is further revealed that around 112 colleges based in Canada have entered into agreements with one entity and more than 150 with another entity. Their involvement in the instant case is under investigation. DeshGujarat