Noida: City cops have busted a gang that allegedly ran a fake visa racket from a shop at Gaur City mall, luring people with promises of employment abroad, collecting passports and hefty fees, and circulating forged documents on WhatsApp.One of the accused, Saksham Sharma alias Bittu, a resident of Karnal in Haryana, was arrested. Police said they recovered eight passports, Rs 47,000 in cash and a cache of forged documents and tools used to run the scam.Central Noida DCP Shakti Mohan Avasthy said a case of cheating and forgery was registered against Bittu and his associate Rajiv Sharma alias Surendra on Saturday. “They opened an office in the name of Sky Visa Venture in Gaur City mall and contacted people through phone calls and other means, promising work visas to send them abroad,” the DCP said.Police said the duo would take the passports of applicants, charge Rs 80,000 to Rs 1 lakh per person, and in some cases sign agreements claiming they would send customers abroad and “guarantee” jobs in countries such as Finland, Poland and Russia. When customers demanded visas, the accused allegedly prepared fake documents and sent copies to their phones.It was only when the victims checked with the embassies concerned that they found the visas were forged. Police said cases linked to the duo had been registered in Meerut’s Medical police station area and in Panipat in Haryana. A team has been formed to arrest the second accused.Acting on local intelligence and electronic surveillance, a police team arrested Bittu on Sunday from ATS Road. Items seized include 24 fake visa photocopies, six blank visa envelopes, 90 visiting cards, 37 letter pads, two counterfeit seals, three mobile phones, firm documents and certificates.
