Crime Branch Busts Fake Passport Syndicate in Delhi; Lawyer Kingpin Arrested

New Delhi: The Crime Branch of the Delhi Police has dismantled a major fake passport syndicate operating in the capital, arresting its mastermind, Nishant Kumar Saxena, a lawyer, along with several of his associates. The syndicate was involved in creating fraudulent passports for criminals, allowing them to escape law enforcement and flee abroad. The operation, conducted by the International Security Cell (ISC) of the Crime Branch, has exposed a deep-rooted network of document forgery and identity fraud.

Crackdown on the Syndicate

Speaking on the matter, Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Surender Kumar stated that the ISC team launched the raid after receiving a tip-off about a fake passport that was about to be delivered to a client. The swift and strategic action led to the arrest of Nishant Kumar Saxena, who was identified as the kingpin of the syndicate.

During the raid, police recovered a significant number of forged documents, electronic devices, and other materials used in identity fraud. The seized items included:

• Six to seven fake passports, made using fraudulent documents.
• Two laptops and 12 mobile phones, used for communication and processing fake identities.
• 170 blank PVC PAN cards and 49 PVC PAN cards with different names.
• 110 blank PVC Aadhar cards and 46 forged Aadhar cards with different identities.
• 104 blank PVC Voter ID cards, highlighting the extensive document forgery network.

Several of Nishant Kumar Saxena’s co-associates were also arrested, revealing the existence of a well-organized crime ring involved in document forgery and illegal identity creation.

Fake Passports for Hardened Criminals

Investigations have revealed that the syndicate was primarily helping gangsters and criminals change their identities through fake passports, enabling them to escape law enforcement and settle abroad. Two notorious criminals who had obtained fake passports from this network have been identified:

1. Monu alias Aryan Khan – A hardened criminal currently in jail for four murder cases.
2. Harpal Singh – A notorious fraudster with four to five cheating cases and one theft case registered against him.

Officials believe that many other criminals may have used the services of this syndicate, and further investigations are underway to track down more individuals involved.

The Modus Operandi

The fake passport syndicate was highly sophisticated in its operations. It used stolen or fabricated documents to create fake identities, which were then used to apply for official government IDs, including PAN cards, Aadhar cards, and Voter ID cards. These fraudulent documents helped criminals obtain legitimate-looking passports under fake names.

Sources within the Crime Branch revealed that the gang charged hefty amounts—often running into lakhs of rupees—to provide criminals with fake passports. The lawyer kingpin, Nishant Kumar Saxena, played a crucial role in verifying and processing fraudulent applications, making the entire operation appear authentic.

National Security Threat and Ongoing Investigations

Officials have warned that such fake passport syndicates pose a serious threat to national security, as they enable criminals, including those involved in terrorism, organized crime, and financial fraud, to flee the country undetected.

The police are now expanding their investigation to uncover other links in this fake document network. Authorities are also examining whether this gang had any connections with international crime syndicates or terrorist organizations.

“We are verifying records to see how many passports have already been issued through this network. Further arrests are expected as more information emerges,” a senior Crime Branch official stated.

The Road Ahead

With the busting of this major fake passport syndicate, law enforcement agencies have dealt a major blow to criminals attempting to evade justice. However, officials acknowledge that similar rackets might still be operational, and efforts will continue to track down and eliminate such fraud networks.

The Delhi Police have urged the public to report any suspicious activities related to document forgery or fake identity creation. The arrest of the lawyer kingpin and his accomplices marks a significant breakthrough, but the investigation is still ongoing to ensure all criminals benefiting from this operation are brought to justice.