Cops arrest immigration officers who allowed 50 people to leave country illegally from Mumbai airport

The Sahar Police has arrested two senior immigration officers posted at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (CSIA) for allegedly allowing flyers to pass through immigration without proper due diligence.

The officers were reportedly arrested over their involvement in an illegal human transportation case, which was busted last month. The arrested officials have been identified as Anil Surse (35) and Harshal Patil (33).

The racket came to light after the police arrested a woman, Komal Damgar, who was travelling to Vancouver in Canada under a fake name and passport.

During questioning, she disclosed more details about the racket and named three alleged masterminds.

Based on her statement, police arrested three men identified as Gaurav Singh, Mukadam Gulam Ali and Mustakil Hussain in the last week of May. The trio, acting as agents, would arrange for fake passports.

During interrogation, the men informed police about the involvement of two immigration officials posted at Mumbai airport. The agents would arrange illegal passage outside the country when the officers were on duty.

“The officers would let people (through immigration) without checking them. They would not check whether (the) passport is legal or not, all details are right or not,” a police official told India Today.

The officers have confessed to illegally transporting over 50 Indians in the last two years. Most of them were sent to Canada.

Senior airport officials have now launched a separate inquiry into the matter. The involvement of other officials in the scam is also being probed.

Meanwhile, all accused have been booked under sections 370 (trafficking of persons), 465 (forgery), 468 (forgery for purpose of cheating), 419 (cheating by personation), 420 (cheating), 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code.