Vadodara: A Maharashtra resident was allegedly duped of Rs 5.7 lakh by a travel agent who promised him a work visa and job in Taiwan. Sagar Pujari lodged a cheating complaint against two persons at Warasia police station.According to the complaint, Pujari’s wife Harinakshi came across a travel agency online in March that claimed to facilitate work visas for Taiwan. She contacted one of the accused, Shreyanshi Joshi, who called the couple to her office on New VIP Road, in Vadodara.After discussing the job and visa process, Pujari paid Rs 21,000 as a processing fee. Joshi subsequently created a WhatsApp group and asked him to submit various documents, including identity papers and his Class X marksheet. Pujari also paid Rs 5.5 lakh as package fee.Pujari alleged that Joshi told him his job had been finalised and asked him to first travel to Thailand before proceeding to Taiwan. After reaching Thailand, he was asked to wait for a few days and was later told that an Australian visa was also required to enter Taiwan. He eventually travelled to Taiwan after the visa formalities were completed.However, after reaching Taiwan, Pujari was allegedly made to wait for the promised job. He repeatedly contacted Joshi, who assured him that the job would be arranged. She also arranged an extension of his visa, but Pujari remained without employment for nearly two months.In Sept, Pujari contacted another accused, Vinit Shah, who introduced himself as a solicitor for the travel company. Shah allegedly assured him that he would either get a job or be brought back to India with a refund of his money.The situation worsened on Sept 25 when Joshi allegedly stopped paying for his hotel and food expenses. Pujari then surrendered to Taiwanese authorities at the airport. He later learnt that the visa extension documents allegedly sent by Joshi were forged and that he had been legally permitted to stay in Taiwan for only 14 days.Pujari said he had to pay a penalty of Rs 1.2 lakh before returning to India. Taiwanese authorities also imposed a three-year ban on his travel to the country, he alleged. Warasia police are investigating the complaint.
