The CBI busted a massive racket, Raids were carried out in around 50 places...
Digital Desk: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) uncovered a fake passport ring that was operating in West Bengal and nearby Sikkim on Saturday, as reported by officials.
Two people were apprehended in Siliguri, north Bengal, including a senior superintendent of the Passport Seva Laghu Kendra (PSLK) in Gangtok.
"The CBI busted a major racket. Raids were carried out in around 50 different locations. Two people have been arrested," a top CBI official stated.
The CBI claimed in an official announcement on Saturday that a case had been filed against 24 people, including the Deputy Passport Officer (DPO) of Kolkata, the senior superintendent of the PSLK in Gangtok, and other public workers and private individuals.
Allegations have surfaced that a section of officers at the Regional Passport Office (RPO) in Kolkata and the Passport Seva Laghu Kendra in Gangtok were participating in a racket in which passports were granted in exchange for money using fraudulent documents.
"The forged documents were submitted on behalf of individuals who were not Indian residents by middlemen. A case was filed against 24 people, including the deputy passport officer of Kolkata and the senior superintendent of the Passport Seva Laghu Kendra in Gangtok, among others," the senior CBI official added.
On Saturday, raids were carried out in Kolkata, Gangtok, Siliguri, Darjeeling, and Alipurduar.
"Goutam Kumar Saha was apprehended while accepting a Rs.1.9 lakh bribe. Rs.3.08 lakh was also recovered from Saha during the search," the official said.
Goutam Kumar Saha, senior superintendent of PSLK in Gangtok, and Dipu Chetri, an agent, were arrested, according to agency officials.
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