Lieutenant Governor (LG) VK Saxena has given the green light for the prosecution of 11 individuals involved in cases of obtaining passports and travel documents through false and forged documents. Since April of this year, the LG has sanctioned the prosecution of 69 people implicated in 46 First Information Reports (FIRs) under the Passports Act, 1967.
In this particular case, six FIRs were filed between 2007 and 2019, emphasizing the persistence of passport-related fraudulent activities. The delay in processing these cases has drawn attention, prompting the LG to issue directions to the Delhi Police and the home department to adhere strictly to existing instructions. The LG also expressed concern over the inordinate delays in processing and submitting cases for seeking prosecution sanction.
The LG underscored the need to avoid unwarranted delays and instructed the Delhi Police to intensify efforts to identify and trace co-accused agents involved in these cases. Additionally, he advised examining the culpability of staff at the Regional Passport Office (RPO) in Mumbai and officials of the Maharashtra Police in a specific case where two fake passports were obtained.
The LG has urged swift action in processing matters under the Passports Act and has directed the Delhi Police to investigate and fix responsibility for the delays in handling these cases.
*Stay updated for further developments on this passport racket investigation.*